Progress on gender equality, at Blazing Cat Fur, "Well Integrated Brit Muslima Demands Equal Beheading Rights for Women."
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Governor Rick Perry Mugshot T-Shirts
Spotted by Maeve Reston of the L.A. Times:
.@GovernorPerry Mugshot t-shirts are flying off the shelves in New Hampshire, worn proudly by voters he's courting pic.twitter.com/FacFmF61um
— Maeve Reston (@MaeveReston) August 23, 2014Noble High School Superintendent Makes 'Skanky' Girls Do Bend-Over Dress Code Check
It's Ronda Bass, the superintendent now being targeted by outraged family members. Of course, these "bend-over ass-checks" should have been performed by the parents, not the school officials.
At KFOR-TV Oklahoma City, "Local superintendent’s controversial way of addressing dress code sends students home humiliated." (Via Memeorandum.)
At KFOR-TV Oklahoma City, "Local superintendent’s controversial way of addressing dress code sends students home humiliated." (Via Memeorandum.)
“If you’re not comfortable with bending over, we might have a problem.”
The Silent Terror: Media Ignoring Islamic Radical’s Murder of Seattle Gay Men?
Robert Stacy McCain reports on Ali Muhammad Brown, who is accused of murdering two gay men in Seattle.
Also at Pamela Geller's, "Media Ruling: Islam Trumps Gay in America, Islam Trumps Teen Murder in America."
WHAT A HOMOPHOBIC TERRORIST KILLER LOOKS LIKE http://t.co/BiPvf4ZHDO #lgbt #p2 #tcot @maddow @chucktodd pic.twitter.com/CNnFPmNdmL
— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) August 23, 2014Also at Pamela Geller's, "Media Ruling: Islam Trumps Gay in America, Islam Trumps Teen Murder in America."
'Call me crazy but if post-op transsexuals have such a brutal suicide rate, maybe we shouldn’t do it to children...'
Gavin McInnes is on an 'indefinite leave of absence' from Rooster following that hilarious piece he wrote a couple of weeks back. I blogged it here, "Wait! You're Transphobic?"
And he's out with some thoughts about it, at Taki Mag, "How to Be Fired."
And he's out with some thoughts about it, at Taki Mag, "How to Be Fired."
"If a man isn’t willing to take risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or the man is no good."
— Gavin McInnes (@Gavin_McInnes) August 20, 2014Looking Back at 'Enrique's Journey — The Boy Left Behind'
A fascinating piece at yesterday's Los Angeles Times.
Of course, the subplot is the open-borders advocacy of the Times' correspondents. This is nothing new. What's interesting is that "Enrique's Journey — The Boy Left Behind" ran 12 years ago at the paper, and I still remember it. Reporter Sonia Nazario won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 2003 for the series. Photographer Don Bartletti won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. Enrique's Journey was also published as a book.
So here comes Barletti with a look back, "LOOKING BACK ON A CHILD MIGRANT'S JOURNEY NORTH ON 'THE BEAST'."
"Enrique's Journey" was the trek --- atop the "beast" freight trains of Mexico --- from Honduras to the U.S. Back in 2000, when Barletti was first covering the story, we didn't have the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Action Act, the 2008 anti-trafficking legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush. It's interesting, though, that the more the story changes, the more it stays the same. Illegal immigrants will continue to flow over our southern border until that time when there's no more political gain to be made from it, for both parties, as it turns out. Either that, or enough terrorists slip into the country to conduct a wave of attacks on the homeland so that we finally militarize the border, completing the "fence" everyone dreams about, although by that time the United States will be even more unrecognizable than it is now. When I'm out and about during the day, especially while running routine errands like shopping, or dropping my son off at the mall, I hear languages other than English spoken more often than not. It doesn't bother me. English remains the language of everyday American life --- you're not going to break out of your ethnic enclave, moving into the national mainstream, without it. But then, as more and more of America is increasingly Balkanized, I suspect our underground illegals don't even care. Indeed, I was nearly attacked by a gang of non-English speaking Mexicans when I was working at a gas station in Santa Barbara in 1992. They act like they own the place --- and that was more than 20 years ago. We're long gone now. Probably the best thing we could do would to be to impose a moratorium on immigration for about a decade or so, allowing the massive wave of new immigrants to assimilate into the country. Democrats don't care about that, of course. They know that they're creating a Democrat Party dependency class with all the undocumented criminals and diseased walking-zombies. Strange, frankly. Democrats don't care about the security of the lives of regular Americans. President Obama epitomizes the base corruption that is the core of the Democrat Party-left. And "Enrique's Journey" is the kind of "good" journalism that wins all kinds of awards for glorifying the criminal activity of illegal aliens who make a mockery of the notion of America as a nation of laws. This is what we've come to as a nation.
Let's just hope there's a decent America left by the time our children have families. There's always hope.
[Speaking of hope, Barletti's subject is Denis Contreras, the boy he'd interviewed in 2000 for the original story. It turns out that Denis was deported from San Diego this year after living nearly 14 years in the U.S. He left behind a wife and child in the states. Illegal immigrant family values, I guess. Maybe they thought the Obama-Dems would be handing out "permisos." Not this time though. Bummer for the dude.]
Of course, the subplot is the open-borders advocacy of the Times' correspondents. This is nothing new. What's interesting is that "Enrique's Journey — The Boy Left Behind" ran 12 years ago at the paper, and I still remember it. Reporter Sonia Nazario won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 2003 for the series. Photographer Don Bartletti won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. Enrique's Journey was also published as a book.
So here comes Barletti with a look back, "LOOKING BACK ON A CHILD MIGRANT'S JOURNEY NORTH ON 'THE BEAST'."
"Enrique's Journey" was the trek --- atop the "beast" freight trains of Mexico --- from Honduras to the U.S. Back in 2000, when Barletti was first covering the story, we didn't have the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Action Act, the 2008 anti-trafficking legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush. It's interesting, though, that the more the story changes, the more it stays the same. Illegal immigrants will continue to flow over our southern border until that time when there's no more political gain to be made from it, for both parties, as it turns out. Either that, or enough terrorists slip into the country to conduct a wave of attacks on the homeland so that we finally militarize the border, completing the "fence" everyone dreams about, although by that time the United States will be even more unrecognizable than it is now. When I'm out and about during the day, especially while running routine errands like shopping, or dropping my son off at the mall, I hear languages other than English spoken more often than not. It doesn't bother me. English remains the language of everyday American life --- you're not going to break out of your ethnic enclave, moving into the national mainstream, without it. But then, as more and more of America is increasingly Balkanized, I suspect our underground illegals don't even care. Indeed, I was nearly attacked by a gang of non-English speaking Mexicans when I was working at a gas station in Santa Barbara in 1992. They act like they own the place --- and that was more than 20 years ago. We're long gone now. Probably the best thing we could do would to be to impose a moratorium on immigration for about a decade or so, allowing the massive wave of new immigrants to assimilate into the country. Democrats don't care about that, of course. They know that they're creating a Democrat Party dependency class with all the undocumented criminals and diseased walking-zombies. Strange, frankly. Democrats don't care about the security of the lives of regular Americans. President Obama epitomizes the base corruption that is the core of the Democrat Party-left. And "Enrique's Journey" is the kind of "good" journalism that wins all kinds of awards for glorifying the criminal activity of illegal aliens who make a mockery of the notion of America as a nation of laws. This is what we've come to as a nation.
Let's just hope there's a decent America left by the time our children have families. There's always hope.
[Speaking of hope, Barletti's subject is Denis Contreras, the boy he'd interviewed in 2000 for the original story. It turns out that Denis was deported from San Diego this year after living nearly 14 years in the U.S. He left behind a wife and child in the states. Illegal immigrant family values, I guess. Maybe they thought the Obama-Dems would be handing out "permisos." Not this time though. Bummer for the dude.]
'Fiberhoods' — Google Provides Neighborhoods With Faster and Cheaper Internet Service, but Are Some Being Left Behind?
Here's more on the power of contemporary social media companies.
At the Wall Street Journal, "Google Fiber Is Fast, but Is It Fair?":
At the Wall Street Journal, "Google Fiber Is Fast, but Is It Fair?":
Frustrated by the hammerlock of U.S. broadband providers, Google Inc. GOOGL +0.02% has searched for ways around them to provide faster Internet speeds at lower cost, via everything from high-speed fiber to satellites.More.
In the process, it is changing how next-generation broadband is rolled out.
Telecom and cable companies generally have been required to blanket entire cities, offering connections to every home. By contrast, Google is building high-speed services as it finds demand, laying new fiber neighborhood by neighborhood.
Others including AT&T Inc. T -0.40% and CenturyLink Inc. CTL -0.27% are copying Google's approach, underscoring a deeper shift in U.S. telecommunications policy, from requiring universal service to letting the marketplace decide.
As Google's model gathers momentum, it stirs up questions about whether residents of poor or underserved neighborhoods will be left behind.
U.S. policy long favored extending service to all. AT&T touted its "universal service" in advertisements more than a century ago. The concept was codified in a 1934 law requiring nationwide "wire and radio services" to reach everyone at "reasonable charges."
In exchange for wiring a community, telecommunications providers often gained a monopoly. Cities made similar deals with cable-TV providers beginning in the 1960s.
The emergence of the commercial Internet in 1990s led to a reassessment. Policy swung in favor of encouraging competition in the hope that it would bring more people online faster. Over time, Congress and regulators loosened the strings on Internet providers.
Google seized the opening in 2010, as it sought to stoke demand for bandwidth-hungry businesses, such as its YouTube online-video site. It solicited interest from cities for a new network, specifying that it sought "opportunities to experiment with deployment techniques." More than 1,000 municipalities responded.
In 2011, Google struck a deal with authorities in both Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., to build the service based on customer demand. City officials say they didn't push hard for universal coverage because they thought faster Internet service would boost the local economy and they were competing against so many other cities.
"The main point was to win and bring that infrastructure to our city," said Rick Usher, assistant city manager of Kansas City, Mo.
As phone and cable companies slowed their own expansion plans, more cities allowed the selective approach.
Mary Beth Henry, director of community technology in Portland, Ore., says broadband providers balked at covering the entire city. So Portland stopped requiring universal coverage in 2007 and this year signed a deal with Google that employs the build-to-demand approach.
Offering service everywhere is "too risky and returns are lower," she said.
In Kansas City, Google divided the region into areas of a few hundred homes it called "fiberhoods" and asked residents to pay $10 to preregister for a service that would operate at one gigabit per second, about 100 times the U.S. average. The service now costs $70 a month.
If interest exceeded a certain threshold, generally between 5% and 25% of households, Google connected the area. The threshold varied based on population density. Google also worked with local officials to speed the permitting and construction process. It skipped some areas entirely, because they were too thinly populated or because of construction challenges, a company spokeswoman said.
To date, Google has conducted preregistration in 364 neighborhoods; all but 16 hit Google's threshold for connection. Google hasn't disclosed how many homes in each neighborhood subscribe to its service...
After Foley Beheading, U.S. Refocuses on Islamic State Threat to the Homeland
From last night's CBS News This Evening, with Bob Schieffer:
Jessica Alba's Smokin' 'Sin City' Character is the 'Opposite of Who I Am'
Hmm, the original "Sin City" was released in 2005, when Ms. Alba would have been just 24 years-old. She's looking no worse for the wear in the sequel, "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For."
An interview with Juju Chang for Nightline:
The movie's in theaters now. Here's a trailer: "Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For - 60 Second Trailer - The Weinstein Company."
And Betsy Sharkey's review, at the Los Angeles Times, "'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' is a sinful waste of a sequel."
An interview with Juju Chang for Nightline:
The movie's in theaters now. Here's a trailer: "Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For - 60 Second Trailer - The Weinstein Company."
And Betsy Sharkey's review, at the Los Angeles Times, "'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' is a sinful waste of a sequel."
NBC's Richard Engel: U.S. Policy Against Islamic State 'Isn't Working'
From last last night's Hardball with Chris Matthews:
Friday, August 22, 2014
Russia Using Artillery in #Ukraine, NATO Says
At the Wall Street Journal, "Ukraine Says Russia Violated Its Border: Move Comes as NATO Says Russia Has Been Using Artillery Against Ukraine":
More.
And watch the first half of this Martha McCallum interview with Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney, who slams Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes as basically an impotent weasel. This is a "covert invasion" of Ukraine by Russia, says McInery. A very serious development not likely to be rebuffed anytime soon. Watch: "Russia Convoy Crosses Into Ukraine - The Kelly File."
Russia has been using artillery against Ukraine forces both from its own territory and from inside Ukraine, NATO officials said Friday. It was the latest volatile development as U.S. and Western military leaders condemned Moscow for sending a convoy of trucks believed to be carrying humanitarian aid into Ukraine without Kiev's permission.Well, obviously we're not going to do anything. Russian's been acting with impunity for months, if not years.
The entry of the aid convoy and the reported presence of Russian forces mark a sharp escalation of the four-month-old conflict. The developments also risk derailing a new diplomatic push to calm the conflict, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel scheduled to visit Kiev on Saturday and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Union officials on Tuesday.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization warned of a "dangerous situation" as reports of increased covert Russian military involvement, including artillery fire, within Ukraine coincided with the entry of the convoy, which gives Russia an overt official presence in rebel-held territory for the first time. U.S. officials said Russia's actions could trigger further consequences, without elaborating.
Russia, which has steadfastly denied aiding the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, brushed aside NATO's accusations. "They have been reporting those things throughout the crisis without providing any proof," Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters in New York.
Oana Lungescu, spokeswoman for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said Friday, "Since mid-August we have multiple reports of the direct involvement of Russian forces, including Russian airborne, air-defense and special-operations forces, in eastern Ukraine." Russian artillery had been fired against Ukrainian forces "both cross-border and from within Ukraine," Ms. Lungescu said. She didn't say how many Russian troops are believed to be in eastern Ukraine or where they had been active.
U.S. officials also said that Russia had been firing into Ukraine, but stopped short of confirming that the artillery fire had come from within Ukraine.
"We have seen the use of Russian artillery in Ukraine in the past days," Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said. "I wouldn't want to speak to an individual instance today, but it certainly has been a pattern whereby we've seen firing from within Russia into Ukraine, and we've seen a disturbing movement of Russian artillery and military equipment into Ukraine as well."
More.
And watch the first half of this Martha McCallum interview with Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney, who slams Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes as basically an impotent weasel. This is a "covert invasion" of Ukraine by Russia, says McInery. A very serious development not likely to be rebuffed anytime soon. Watch: "Russia Convoy Crosses Into Ukraine - The Kelly File."
Death of James Foley Demands We Bear Witness, Not Craven Self-Censorship
This has been my position all along, and it irks me that the leftist push for censorship of terror has become the reflex mode for so many.
Jeff Jacoby pushes back against the cowardly leftist culture of ostrich-like self-censorship, at the Boston Globe, "James Foley video is grim, but we owe it to him to bear witness":
Jeff Jacoby pushes back against the cowardly leftist culture of ostrich-like self-censorship, at the Boston Globe, "James Foley video is grim, but we owe it to him to bear witness":
James Foley wasn't in Syria to sanitize ISIS's evil, but to expose it. The evidence of his death deserves no less. http://t.co/uaK3OhEHRK
— Jeff Jacoby (@Jeff_Jacoby) August 22, 2014SCARCELY HAD ISIS posted its video showing the grisly beheading of American journalist James Foley than the rush to stifle it began.More.
“Don’t watch the video. Don’t share it. That’s not how life should be,” entreated Foley’s sister Kelly in a message on Twitter that was heavily retweeted. Thousands of social media users, some of them journalists, called for an #ISISMediaBlackout — the hashtag quickly went viral — and Twitter CEO Dick Costolo announced that the company was “actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery.” YouTube removed versions of the video posted on its site, invoking its policy on “gratuitous violence, hate speech, and incitement to commit violent acts.”
Most mainstream news organizations chose not to show or link to the sickening videos, or to publish still photos showing Foley being beheaded. One exception was the New York Post, which ran a front-page picture showing the journalist just as the knife was put to his throat, with the one-word headline: “SAVAGES.” For doing so, the paper was vehementlycriticized. Buzzfeed editor Adam Serwer echoed the widespread view that to publicize the gruesome image was to give the terrorists more of the notoriety they crave. “Pretty sure ISIS could not be happier with the New York Post’s front page today,” he tweeted.
Would that have been Foley’s reaction? Would he have clamored for self-censorship and a media blackout? Or would he have wanted decent people everywhere to know — and, yes, to see — the crimes being committed by the ruthlessly indecent killers calling themselves the Islamic State?
The intrepid and compassionate reporter from New Hampshire didn’t travel to Syria to sanitize and downplay the horror occurring there. He went to document and expose it. The 4-minute, 40-second video that records the last moments of Foley’s life may be slick jihadist propaganda designed to intimidate ISIS’s enemies and recruit more zealots to its cause. But it is also a key piece of the news story that Foley risked everything to pursue. That story cost him his life. The least we can do is bear witness to the courage and dignity with which he met his awful end.
Anyone with a heart understands why Foley’s anguished loved ones would want his murderers’ gloating depravity to be suppressed. When The Wall Street Journal’s Daniel Pearl was beheaded by Al Qaeda in 2002, his family issued a similar plea. “We should remove all terrorist-produced murder scenes from our Web sites and agree to suppress such scenes in the future,” urged Daniel’s father, the scientist Judea Pearl, in a published essay.
But we will never prevail over an enemy as barbaric and totalitarian as the Islamic State if we avert our gaze from what it does to those it vanquishes. There are times when it is necessary to see the evil, not just to read or hear about it. Images, especially of man’s inhumanity to man, can often convey truths and illuminate reality with an urgency that the best-chosen words cannot match...
In the Mail: William Voegeli, 'The Pity Party: A Mean-Spirited Diatribe Against Liberal Compassion'
I like this book. So far I've read the introduction, but I'm not putting it down.
The publisher sent me an uncorrected proof. The book releases to the general public in November. Pre-order just in time for the holidays: The Pity Party: A Mean-Spirited Diatribe Against Liberal Compassion.
The publisher sent me an uncorrected proof. The book releases to the general public in November. Pre-order just in time for the holidays: The Pity Party: A Mean-Spirited Diatribe Against Liberal Compassion.
Should Twitter, Facebook and Google Executives be the Arbiters of What We See and Read?
I loathe Glenn Greenwald as a traitor, although I've never discounted that he occasionally makes a very good point.
In this case, on the widespread censorship of the James Foley beheading. I know. Why share terrorist propaganda? Well, one reason is broadcast the evil widely. Maybe the public will demand an overwhelming response from the American eagle. Certainly, the White House isn't going to do it on its own.
In any case, here's Greenwald at the Intercept:
They already have so much power. It's ridiculous.
But keep reading.
PREVIOUSLY: "Google Takes Down Blog Post: 'GRAPHIC VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads U.S. Journalist James Foley in Warning to Obama'."
RELATED: At the Los Angeles Times, "Social networks crack down on terror posts."
In this case, on the widespread censorship of the James Foley beheading. I know. Why share terrorist propaganda? Well, one reason is broadcast the evil widely. Maybe the public will demand an overwhelming response from the American eagle. Certainly, the White House isn't going to do it on its own.
In any case, here's Greenwald at the Intercept:
Given the savagery of the Foley video, it’s easy in isolation to cheer for its banning on Twitter. But that’s always how censorship functions: it invariably starts with the suppression of viewpoints which are so widely hated that the emotional response they produce drowns out any consideration of the principle being endorsed.Right.
It’s tempting to support criminalization of, say, racist views as long as one focuses on one’s contempt for those views and ignores the serious dangers of vesting the state with the general power to create lists of prohibited ideas. That’s why free speech defenders such as the ACLU so often represent and defend racists and others with heinous views in free speech cases: because that’s where free speech erosions become legitimized in the first instance when endorsed or acquiesced to.
The question posed by Twitter’s announcement is not whether you think it’s a good idea for people to see the Foley video. Instead, the relevant question is whether you want Twitter, Facebook and Google executives exercising vast power over what can be seen and read.
They already have so much power. It's ridiculous.
But keep reading.
PREVIOUSLY: "Google Takes Down Blog Post: 'GRAPHIC VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads U.S. Journalist James Foley in Warning to Obama'."
RELATED: At the Los Angeles Times, "Social networks crack down on terror posts."
We've Got the Terrorists on the Run
Now, if we could just get them going in the right direction.
Via Andrew Malcolm:
Via Andrew Malcolm:
Obama was right about alQaeda running, but he got the direction wrong. pic.twitter.com/yEISocPt6u http://t.co/lCluNOdxJ5
— Andrew Malcolm (@AHMalcolm) August 21, 2014Rapper Talib Kweli Hilarious Interview with CNN's Don Lemon
This interview generated wild headlines.
The best part is Don Lemon's body language at 2:50 minutes. He knows he got pwned, lol.
The best part is Don Lemon's body language at 2:50 minutes. He knows he got pwned, lol.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
New Poll Shows Hagan and Tillis Statistically Tied in #NCSEN
Most analysts have been crowing about how little effect the outside ads have been having on Kay Hagan's standing in the race. Although now, with the new survey from USA Today and Suffolk University, folks are going to have to come up with another deflection point for the left's epic Democrat Party fail.
And remember, Tillis is supposed to be an objectively bad candidate, having supposedly alienated North Carolinians with a take-no-prisoners conservative reform agenda as Speaker of the North Carolina House (remember "Moral Mondays"?). Well, I guess that argument's not holding much water anymore either.
I noted the race was tightening the other day, when we had the blatantly partisan Democrat Party survey out from Public Policy Polling. But USA Today has long run a very reputable series of public opinion polls. And now they've got #NCSEN deadlocked.
Here's the report, from Susan Page, "Poll: In a sour N.C. Senate race, it's all but a tie":
And remember, Tillis is supposed to be an objectively bad candidate, having supposedly alienated North Carolinians with a take-no-prisoners conservative reform agenda as Speaker of the North Carolina House (remember "Moral Mondays"?). Well, I guess that argument's not holding much water anymore either.
I noted the race was tightening the other day, when we had the blatantly partisan Democrat Party survey out from Public Policy Polling. But USA Today has long run a very reputable series of public opinion polls. And now they've got #NCSEN deadlocked.
Here's the report, from Susan Page, "Poll: In a sour N.C. Senate race, it's all but a tie":
ICYMI: In a sour #NCSen race, it's all but a tie http://t.co/mI8tyX3sKA via @SusanPage pic.twitter.com/dGR0br6Smj
— USA TODAY Washington (@USATWashington) August 21, 2014
North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan is all but tied with Republican challenger Thom Tillis in a midterm showdown likely to help determine control of the Senate, a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll finds.More.
The Tar Heel State survey, which launches a series looking at key Senate and gubernatorial contests across the country this fall, shows an electorate that is feeling a bit better about the economy but decidedly negative toward politics. Voters are inclined to have an unfavorable view of each candidate and overwhelmingly disapprove of the legislative bodies in which they serve.
Hagan leads Tillis, the speaker of the North Carolina General Assembly, 45%-43%, an edge within the poll's margin of error of +/-4.4 percentage points. Libertarian candidate Sean Haugh could hold the balance: His supporters, 5% overall, disproportionately identify Tillis as their second choice.
The impact of the hard-fought campaign already has left some scars.
Frazier Manning, a 75-year-old retiree from Hope Mills who was among those surveyed, is voting for Tillis in large part because he's dismayed by Hagan, especially for her support of the Affordable Care Act. "She voted for it, but she won't respond to me about how she's going to fix it," he says. "I think he'll do more to repeal it and replace it." ...
North Carolina has been a Republican-leaning state but one Democrats increasingly see as competitive. Hagan, elected in 2008, is one of the GOP's prime targets in its effort to gain six seats and with it control of the Senate. After Tuesday's primary in Alaska, where Dan Sullivan won the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Mark Begich, the most closely watched Senate races now are set. Sullivan and other establishment-backed contenders defeated Tea Party primary opponents, a development expected to boost GOP prospects in November.
The USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll of 500 likely voters, interviewed by landline and cellphone, was taken Saturday through Tuesday. Other recent statewide surveys also have shown a tight race. Tillis had a lead of 1.7 points in four surveys over the past month tracked by realclearpolitics.com.
After James Foley Statement, Obama Wasted No Time Getting Back to the Links!
Heh, even the mainstream networks couldn't let this go.
"NBC: Right After Statement on ISIS, Obama Returned to the Golf Course."
"NBC: Right After Statement on ISIS, Obama Returned to the Golf Course."
Why Wrigley Field Is Suddenly So Empty
Well, it's not because of the tarp gaffe the other night.
Turns out the new ownership is all about winning. Management has a long-term plan to make the Cubs competitive, and strategic trades, etc., have weakened the ball club's standings in the short-term.
An interesting piece, at the Wall Street Journal, "The Cubs Are Trying Harder to Win, But Is That Hurting Attendance?"
Turns out the new ownership is all about winning. Management has a long-term plan to make the Cubs competitive, and strategic trades, etc., have weakened the ball club's standings in the short-term.
An interesting piece, at the Wall Street Journal, "The Cubs Are Trying Harder to Win, But Is That Hurting Attendance?"
Jennifer Nicole Lee Mighty Bikini in Miami
This lady's great for blogging. Check the link for previous iterations.
And at Egotastic!, "Jennifer Nicole Lee Bikini Booty Show Poolside in Miami."
BONUS: Also at Egotastic!, "Stacey Poole Poses for Some Bath Time Fun."
And at Egotastic!, "Jennifer Nicole Lee Bikini Booty Show Poolside in Miami."
BONUS: Also at Egotastic!, "Stacey Poole Poses for Some Bath Time Fun."
Bank of America Agrees to Pay Record $16.65 Billion in Obama-Holder Housing Settlement Shakedown
Look, we know what happened.
Many analysts, including Gretchen Morgenson of the New York Times, in Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon, indicated that Democrat-leftist policies pushed government-backed financial institutions, such Fannie Mae, to issue sub-prime home loans to unqualified minorities. This dates back to the Clinton years. Democrats called for "partnerships" between government and the private sector, which ultimately removed all limits on mortgage lending, feeding an unchecked real-estate bubble and ultimately the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression.
But now here comes Barack Obama's shakedown Attorney General, who strong-armed B of A into this record shakedown payout.
The announcement is at the corrupt DOJ website, "Bank of America to Pay $16.65 Billion in Historic Justice Department Settlement for Financial Fraud Leading up to and During the Financial Crisis" (via Memeorandum).
And at the Wall Street Journal, "Record Bank of America Settlement Latest in Government CrusadeBank Agrees to Pay $16.65 Billion in Cash and Consumer Aid":
Many analysts, including Gretchen Morgenson of the New York Times, in Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon, indicated that Democrat-leftist policies pushed government-backed financial institutions, such Fannie Mae, to issue sub-prime home loans to unqualified minorities. This dates back to the Clinton years. Democrats called for "partnerships" between government and the private sector, which ultimately removed all limits on mortgage lending, feeding an unchecked real-estate bubble and ultimately the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression.
But now here comes Barack Obama's shakedown Attorney General, who strong-armed B of A into this record shakedown payout.
The announcement is at the corrupt DOJ website, "Bank of America to Pay $16.65 Billion in Historic Justice Department Settlement for Financial Fraud Leading up to and During the Financial Crisis" (via Memeorandum).
And at the Wall Street Journal, "Record Bank of America Settlement Latest in Government CrusadeBank Agrees to Pay $16.65 Billion in Cash and Consumer Aid":
On Thursday, the bank agreed to pay $16.65 billion to settle the government's accusations it sold flawed mortgage securities in the run up to the 2008 crisis, the largest settlement ever reached between the U.S. and a single company.
For the U.S. government, the deal is a chance to put an exclamation point on a string of crisis-era enforcement actions and lawsuits that have cost big U.S. banks tens of billions of dollars. The Charlotte, N.C. lender will have to pay $9.65 billion in cash to the Justice Department, six states and other government agencies. The bank also will provide $7 billion in consumer aid by modifying mortgages for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth, demolishing derelict properties or other relief.
For Bank of America, the settlement is a bitter coda to its decision in 2008 to buy two companies, Countrywide Financial Corp. and Merrill Lynch & Co., as they teetered during the housing crisis. Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan, who has spent his 41/2 years as CEO wading through litigation, has told investors this is the last of the big crisis-era problems. His next challenge: proving the bank has the mettle to make money in an era of weak loan demand and low interest rates.
In a statement, Mr. Moynihan said the settlement "is in the best interests of our shareholders, and allows us to continue to focus on the future." Giant legal charges have depressed the bank's earnings for years, frustrating some investors. The bank said the settlement will cut third-quarter pretax earnings by $5.3 billion, or 43 cents a share after tax.
Shares in the company rocketed more than 4%, to close at $16.16, as investors welcomed the resolution of a long-running legal headache.
The Justice Department's case against Bank of America provides perhaps the clearest window yet into the behavior that fueled the 2008 financial crisis: Lenders knowingly providing credit to borrowers who couldn't afford the loans and selling those mortgages to unwitting investors. Borrowers ultimately defaulted, sending them into foreclosure and saddling investors with hefty losses.
Many of the mortgage securities in question were made by Countrywide and Merrill Lynch. But the government found problems with Bank of America's own mortgage securities as well, including efforts to circumvent underwriting standards by changing applicants' financial information.
In at least one instance, an underwriter at Bank of America made more than 40 attempts to win an "accept" rating from an internal Countrywide system—known as CLUES—that would allow Bank of America to make a loan, according to a statement of facts signed by the U.S. and Bank of America.
"One underwriter characterized what she was doing as trying to 'trick' the CLUES system into giving an 'accept' rating," according to the document.
The ramifications of originating weak loans was predicted by former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo, who warned in an Aug. 1, 2005 email to other executives that real-estate developers were anticipating a condo-market collapse in areas like South Florida and Las Vegas, and said the firm should avoid putting certain loans on its own balance sheet. Mr. Mozilo was worried the large increase in monthly payments required by many of the Countrywide-issued mortgages ultimately would cause borrowers to default.
"The simple reason is that when the loan resets in five years there will be enormous payment shock and the borrower is not sufficiently sophisticated to truly understand the consequences then the bank will be dealing with foreclosure in potentially a deflated real estate market. This would be both a financial and reputational catastrophe," Mr. Mozilo wrote, according to Justice Department documents.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles are preparing to file civil charges against Mr. Mozilo and other former Countrywide executives, according to a person familiar with the situation. Mr. Mozilo's lawyer, David Siegel, said, "There is no sound or fair basis, in law or in fact, to pursue any claims against Angelo Mozilo."
Countrywide, in particular, has morphed from trophy to albatross for Bank of America. The bank had a history of gobbling up competitors when it bought Countrywide in 2008 and the deal launched it to the top of the mortgage world.
The purchase, though, has brought legal headaches and regulatory scrutiny, including a multistate settlement over alleged predatory lending practices just months after Bank of America bought the lender. The bank's mortgage unit hasn't turned a profit in years.
The settlement comes on the heels of similar, but smaller, deals over precrisis mortgage-related conduct with Citigroup Inc. C +2.55% for $7 billion and J.P. Morgan Chase JPM +1.49% & Co for $13 billion. The Justice Department is expected to turn its attention next to other banks accused of selling flawed mortgage securities, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS +0.64% and Wells Fargo& Co., according to people familiar with the matter. Those cases are expected to be smaller than the previous three settlements.
GlobalPost CEO Philip Balboni: James Foley Murder, #ISIS Threat, 'Cannot Go Unanswered...' (VIDEO)
Amazingly calm and rational statement. Simply, this threat "cannot go unanswered."
At National Review, "GlobalPost CEO: U.S. Must Respond to James Foley’s Murder, ‘Cannot Go Unanswered’."
And at the Global Post, "Foley beheading video followed prior threat," and "Full text of the last email the Islamic State sent to the Foley family."
At National Review, "GlobalPost CEO: U.S. Must Respond to James Foley’s Murder, ‘Cannot Go Unanswered’."
And at the Global Post, "Foley beheading video followed prior threat," and "Full text of the last email the Islamic State sent to the Foley family."
REPORT: James Foley Rescue Mission Failed Because Obama 'Dragged His Feet' — #IslamicState
This has been the big news all day,
And now at Atlas Shrugs, "Report: U.S. Special Forces Rescue Attempt Of James Foley Failed Because Obama Kept “Dragging His Feet”."
Listen to the audio here, "Retired Intel Officer Tony Shaffer: Foley Rescue Attempt Failed Because Obama ‘Dragged His Feet’." (Via Free Beacon.)
Unless we get "ahead of the curve" we're going to see people being killed "on a level not seen since World War II."
And now at Atlas Shrugs, "Report: U.S. Special Forces Rescue Attempt Of James Foley Failed Because Obama Kept “Dragging His Feet”."
Listen to the audio here, "Retired Intel Officer Tony Shaffer: Foley Rescue Attempt Failed Because Obama ‘Dragged His Feet’." (Via Free Beacon.)
Unless we get "ahead of the curve" we're going to see people being killed "on a level not seen since World War II."
Pamela Geller: 'Obama Has Constantly Denied the Jihad Threat...' #JamesFoley #ISIS #Appeasement
America has virtually disarmed in the face of savagery.
Here's Pamela Geller, "VIDEO: Pamela Geller on The Rick Amato Show, One America News, Discussing the Islamic State and the Beheading of James Foley."
More, "Obama Uses Jihad Beheading of American Journalist to Proselytize for Islam."
Here's Pamela Geller, "VIDEO: Pamela Geller on The Rick Amato Show, One America News, Discussing the Islamic State and the Beheading of James Foley."
More, "Obama Uses Jihad Beheading of American Journalist to Proselytize for Islam."
Mo'ne Davis!
I'm just tryin' to keep up with the pennant race in the American League West Division.
But this young lady is getting a lot of attention, at the New York Times, for example, "Mo’ne Davis: A Woman Among Boys at the Little League World Series."
And she'll be on the cover of Sports Illustrated:
But this young lady is getting a lot of attention, at the New York Times, for example, "Mo’ne Davis: A Woman Among Boys at the Little League World Series."
And she'll be on the cover of Sports Illustrated:
Mo'ne Davis just landed the cover of Sports Illustrated http://t.co/mBw1At8LUq pic.twitter.com/eXYf7SZQ1R
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 21, 2014It wasn't Mo'ne Davis's night, but her story is far from over: http://t.co/IMTCdPrp7a pic.twitter.com/3EYDGVq1OU
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 21, 2014Miss Colombia Paola Builes Stripped of Beauty Crown Because of Racy Bikini Photos
Seriously? In this day and age?
She was stripped of the Miss Antioquia title.
At the Mirror UK, "Miss Colombia favourite kicked out of contest because bikini was 'too revealing'," and the New York Post, "Colombian pageant queen kicked out of competition over 'inappropriate' bikini pics."
More photos at the Lad Bible, "Miss Colombia Contestant Banned From Pageant Because Her Bikini Is 'Too Revealing'."
UPDATE! The Daley Gator does Ms. Paola some justice: "INJUSTICE! BEAUTY QUEEN STRIPPED OF CROWN BY BIKINIPHOBES! (PHOTOS!)"
She was stripped of the Miss Antioquia title.
At the Mirror UK, "Miss Colombia favourite kicked out of contest because bikini was 'too revealing'," and the New York Post, "Colombian pageant queen kicked out of competition over 'inappropriate' bikini pics."
More photos at the Lad Bible, "Miss Colombia Contestant Banned From Pageant Because Her Bikini Is 'Too Revealing'."
UPDATE! The Daley Gator does Ms. Paola some justice: "INJUSTICE! BEAUTY QUEEN STRIPPED OF CROWN BY BIKINIPHOBES! (PHOTOS!)"
Paola Builes de 20 años, quien fue nombrada señorita Antioquia, fue descalificada por polémicas fotos. pic.twitter.com/UGHDk7dhLd
— Q'hubo Barranquilla (@QhuboQuilla) August 12, 2014
This is so mean!
Obama's golf war gets Althouse riled: "Poor Obama!"
British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his holiday to deal with the crisis. Obama, phones it in from Massachusetts.
And from the Daily News' editorial:
Obama blasted for golfing after speech: http://t.co/hwdD5DtiAh
Editorial: Obama’s duty to act: http://t.co/2oNOndaTh6 pic.twitter.com/IBGhqqKnxF
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 21, 2014British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his holiday to deal with the crisis. Obama, phones it in from Massachusetts.
And from the Daily News' editorial:
Americans can only pray that President Obama was as serious as a drone strike when he vowed the United States would “see that justice is done” for the beheading of American journalist James Foley.Well, we need a different president. I think the terrorists have a cakewalk of carnage until January 2017, and possible longer, if a Democrat is elected.
While his anger was palpable, Obama’s resolve to rain death on the savages of ISIS was far from clear. Worse, he signaled disdain for the gravity of the moment by going from the presidential podium straight to a vacation round of golf.
The country deserved better from its reluctant-warrior commander in chief. So, too, Foley’s family. So, too, the family of Steven Sotloff, a second American journalist held by ISIS. So, too, the tens of thousands of Iraqis and Syrians facing murderous barbarity.
Ace Pitcher Garrett Richards Injures Knee in #Angels 8-3 Win Over Red Sox
Looks like he'll need surgery and will be out for six months.
At LAT:
The Angels will call up Wade LeBlanc, per Mike DiGiovanna:
At LAT:
The Angels huddled around first base Wednesday night as medical personnel tended to Garrett Richards, who lay on his back, writhing in so much pain that first baseman Albert Pujols, on one knee, held the pitcher's hand to comfort him.More.
Richards, the hard-throwing right-hander who has emerged as one of baseball's best pitchers in his first full season as a starter, suffered what Manager Mike Scioscia called a "significant" left knee injury while covering first base on a potential double-play grounder in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Richards spent eight minutes on the ground before being wheeled out on a stretcher. His 2014 season appears finished, and he will likely need surgery on the patellar tendon, a procedure that would require at least a six-month recovery.
No doubt, fans and followers of this star-crossed franchise were wondering: Did the team's World Series hopes get carted off with Richards?
"To have something like that happen is a crushing blow to any team," Angels right-hander Jered Weaver said. "I heard him screaming down there, so you knew something wasn't right. It doesn't look too good for him. He's been our guy all year, one you could count on to get deep into games and pull out a victory."
The Angels will call up Wade LeBlanc, per Mike DiGiovanna:
#Angels will recall LHP Wade LeBlanc from triple-A Salt Lake today. Will be in pen tonight, probably start Monday night vs. MIA.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 21, 2014Lt. Col. Ralph Peters Slams Obama Administration: 'Doesn't Know History ... Doesn't Want to Deal with Reality...'
A must-see video.
The reality is that we must kill the terrorists before the kill us. We must "kill them, keep on killing them until [we] kill the last one. Then, [we] kill his pet goat."
At Red Alert Politics, "Fox News analyst Ralph Peters on ISIS terrorists: ‘Hammer those suckers’."
The reality is that we must kill the terrorists before the kill us. We must "kill them, keep on killing them until [we] kill the last one. Then, [we] kill his pet goat."
At Red Alert Politics, "Fox News analyst Ralph Peters on ISIS terrorists: ‘Hammer those suckers’."
CBS News Los Angeles Broadcasts Segments of #ISIS James Foley Propaganda Video
It's not distasteful, although it's hardly toeing the line with the left's #ISISMediaBlackout.
CNN's report, for example, by national security correspondent Barbara Starr, showed screencaps from the video, but no actual footage. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of the left's cultural censors ---- or God forbid, take too firm a stand against religious terrorism.
As I always say, it's better to spread the word about the evil of Islamic jihad.
CNN's report, for example, by national security correspondent Barbara Starr, showed screencaps from the video, but no actual footage. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of the left's cultural censors ---- or God forbid, take too firm a stand against religious terrorism.
As I always say, it's better to spread the word about the evil of Islamic jihad.
Kidnapping of Western Journalists, Tourists, and Aid Workers Has Become Multimillion-Dollar Business
Somalian terrorists take hostages for money. The Islamic State just wants to murder them for propaganda purposes.
See USA Today, "Kidnapping Westerners is big business."
See USA Today, "Kidnapping Westerners is big business."
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
State Department's Marie Harf 'Won't Rule Anything In or Out' on Policy Responses to #ISIS Terrorism
We'll probably see a few more tactical airstrikes and that'll be it. In a few weeks the U.S. will be well into the post-Labor Day election campaign, and the Obama White House will have long forgotten about James Foley.
Video: Police Shoot and Kill Knife-Wielding Suspect Kajieme Powell in St. Louis
The main story is at St. Louis Public Radio and Memeorandum, "St. Louis Police Release Video, Calls From City Shooting."
Actually, there are two videos. One shows shows Kajieme Powel allegedly shoplifting donuts and energy drinks from a convenience store (and clearly somebody is shoplifting in the video), and a second video, captured by mobile phone, shows the shooting.
Watch: "Powell Shooting (Security Camera)," and "Powell Shooting (Cell Phone Camera)."
More at KSDK Newschannel 5 St. Louis, "Police name man who died in officer-involved shooting."
At at NewsMax, "Knife-Wielding Man Shot to Death by Police in St. Louis":
Actually, there are two videos. One shows shows Kajieme Powel allegedly shoplifting donuts and energy drinks from a convenience store (and clearly somebody is shoplifting in the video), and a second video, captured by mobile phone, shows the shooting.
Watch: "Powell Shooting (Security Camera)," and "Powell Shooting (Cell Phone Camera)."
More at KSDK Newschannel 5 St. Louis, "Police name man who died in officer-involved shooting."
At at NewsMax, "Knife-Wielding Man Shot to Death by Police in St. Louis":
A knife-wielding man was shot to death Tuesday after allegedly shoplifting from a St. Louis convenience store. The incident took place just 2.6 miles from the protests in Ferguson.
According to local news reports, the 23-year-old suspect entered the store and stole two energy drinks, left the store, and returned to take a pastry.
The store owner followed the man from the store and police were called.
KMOV.com quotes police as saying that whens officers arrived, the man was acting erratically, yelling at officers, "Shoot me now, kill me now."
Fox2now.com reports that the man was warned repeatedly by the two officers on the scene to drop his knife, but he refused, instead charging at the officers. Both officers then shot the man, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Police Chief Sam Dotson told Fox 2 that the man was two or three feet from the officers in an attack posture when he was shot. The officers were not injured.
Asked about the incident by KMOV, Dotson said police officers have a right to defend themselves.
The incident occurred about 1 p.m. Central Time.
VIDEO: #ISIS 'Collecting' Hostages — 'Almost All Foreign Hostages' in Syria Held by Islamic State
It's NBC's Richard Engel reporting from the Turkey-Syria border. And remember, in 2012, Engel himself was taken hostage by Syrian forces loyal to Assad.
Here's his report from the Today Show this morning, at the link: "NBC: ISIL 'Collecting' Foreign Hostages."
He mentions "between 30 and 40" foreign hostages, including journalists and aid workers. It's dangerous over there, and public opinion is disinclined toward a renewed ground presence. So after this outrage cools off in the coming weeks, we'll be back to Obama's "realist" approach to the Islamic State threat.
Here's his report from the Today Show this morning, at the link: "NBC: ISIL 'Collecting' Foreign Hostages."
He mentions "between 30 and 40" foreign hostages, including journalists and aid workers. It's dangerous over there, and public opinion is disinclined toward a renewed ground presence. So after this outrage cools off in the coming weeks, we'll be back to Obama's "realist" approach to the Islamic State threat.
New York Post: 'Time to Bomb #ISIS'
From the editors at the Post:
The time for games is over.PREVIOUSLY: "New York Post Runs Graphic Cover Photo of James Foley #ISIS Beheading."
On Tuesday, America got a horrific wake-up call: Islamic State terrorists released a gruesome video that shows them beheading James Wright Foley, an American photojournalist held in Syria since 2012. The group also showed another US journalist held hostage, Steven Joel Sotloff, and threatened to murder him as well.
“The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision,” declares the masked terrorist as he holds Sotloff by the neck.
True, that puts President Obama in a difficult spot. But the president must do whatever it takes to counter this vicious savagery: that is, launch full-throttled airstrikes against ISIS and its “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria — until the threat is gone.
With American lives now being taken and even more at risk, America is now directly involved. No more playing footsie with butchers....
ISIS has now sent what it called “A Message to America.” It’s time for America to send a more pointed message back.
Pro-Israel Hollywood Speaks Out
From Mark Tapson, at FrontPage Magazine:
RT if you can't wait for the wknd to start... Have a great wknd everyone & a happy summer!! xoxo #YOLO #LOVE pic.twitter.com/ygIboRcDju
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) June 21, 2013Another superhero – Gal Gadot, who will play Wonder Woman in the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice – spoke out as well via social media, posting this on Facebook:
I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children…We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom!Gadot is a former Miss Israel who served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces. In a 2011 interview, she stated that:
I don’t feel like I’m an ambassador for my country, but I do talk about Israel a lot – I enjoy telling people about where I come from and my religion. I find that people in the U.S., especially in Hollywood, tend to have positive opinions on Israel – both Jewish and non-Jewish people alike. But when I travel to Europe, people often don’t know as much about Israel, and sadly a lot of them have a negative impression of the country.Perhaps she should be an ambassador, because she handled that last sentence very diplomatically.
James Foley, Far Left-Wing Journalist, Supported Islamic Jihad Against Bashar al-Assad in Syria
From Daniel Greenfield, at FrontPage Magazine:
James Foley Went Looking to Support Terrorists in Syria, Instead They Cut Off His Head | FrontPage Magazine http://t.co/uicv8uvVXw
— Daniel Greenfield (@Sultanknish) August 20, 2014Any human life lost is tragic, but a moral individual would have much more empathy for the Syrian Christians who suffered at the hands of Foley’s favorite Jihadists than one of their pet propagandists.RTWT.
Foley came to Syria to support the Sunni Islamist rebels against the Syrian government.
He cheered on the Sunni Muslim terrorists fighting to ethnically cleanse the Christians of Aleppo. In the conflict between Israel and Hamas, his tweets and retweets were chock full of pro-terrorist propaganda.
But Foley ran afoul of at least some of the Sunni Jihadists in Syria. His twitter feed was filled with references to the FSA. And the FSA was going to be eclipsed by the Al Qaeda affiliates. And that was where he ended up.
When Austin Tice, an actual freelance journalist was kidnapped by Jihadists, Foley ridiculed the idea that Jihadists had kidnapped him. Surely Syrian Jihadists wouldn’t do that sort of thing.
Except they did.
When Newsweek’s Muslim Rage cover story came out, Foley mocked it too. Raging Muslims. How silly and Islamophobic.
Foley was fanatically anti-Israel and was even willing to echo Iranian propaganda.
Prime Minister David Cameron: 'Increasingly Likely' Foley's Murderer British (VIDEO)
At the Telegraph UK:
David Cameron cut short his holiday to return to Downing Street and oversee the response after the horrific video was posted online.
Speaking to reporters in Number 10, Mr Cameron said it seemed "increasingly likely" that a British citizen was the killer.
"Let me condemn the barbaric and brutal act that has taken place and let's be clear what this act is - it is an act of murder, and murder without any justification," he said.
"We have not identified the individual responsible, but from what we have seen it looks increasingly likely that it is a British citizen.
"This is deeply shocking. But we know that far too many British citizens have travelled to Iraq and travelled to Syria to take part in extremism and violence. And what we must do is redouble all our efforts to stop people from going. To take away the passports of those contemplating travel, arrest and prosecute those who take part in this extremism and violence. To take extremist material off the internet and do everything we can to keep our people safe. And that is what this Government will do."
New York Post Runs Graphic Cover Photo of James Foley #ISIS Beheading
Personally, I think the news of this horrific murder should be disseminated widely, and the New York Post went no-holds-barred with this graphic cover photo and story, "SAVAGES! Bloodthirsty ISIS militants behead US journalist James Foley."
And here's UPI for a taste of the inevitable backlash, "New York Post defies #ISISMediablackout with graphic James Foley cover."
Also at Toronto's National Post, "#ISISMediaBlackout: Social media users urged to shun beheading video of American journalist James Foley."
PREVIOUSLY: "Google Takes Down Blog Post: 'GRAPHIC VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads U.S. Journalist James Foley in Warning to Obama'," and "VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads American Journalist James Foley (GRAPHIC)."
And here's UPI for a taste of the inevitable backlash, "New York Post defies #ISISMediablackout with graphic James Foley cover."
Also at Toronto's National Post, "#ISISMediaBlackout: Social media users urged to shun beheading video of American journalist James Foley."
SAVAGES! Bloodthirsty ISIS militants behead US journalist James Foley http://t.co/INoHYFOLfa pic.twitter.com/yCMGE5GBQE
— New York Post (@nypost) August 20, 2014
PREVIOUSLY: "Google Takes Down Blog Post: 'GRAPHIC VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads U.S. Journalist James Foley in Warning to Obama'," and "VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads American Journalist James Foley (GRAPHIC)."
Islamic State Trolls 'American Power' on Twitter with James Foley Beheading Video — UPDATED!
Here's the irony, Google and YouTube are busy taking down blog posts and videos of the James Foley beheading, and just as soon as they take them down, more will pop back up. It's a whack a terrorist game, and Google's losing.
Here's the screencap of an Islamic State troll trolling my Twitter feed with the Foley video:
As of 12:10pm, neither Twitter nor YouTube has pulled the video, seen at the link.
UPDATE: Twitter took down the ISIS page, but the tweet's YouTube video of Foley's beheading is still up at 2:35pm.
UPDATE: The video is still up, at 9:35pm.
Here's the screencap of an Islamic State troll trolling my Twitter feed with the Foley video:
As of 12:10pm, neither Twitter nor YouTube has pulled the video, seen at the link.
UPDATE: Twitter took down the ISIS page, but the tweet's YouTube video of Foley's beheading is still up at 2:35pm.
UPDATE: The video is still up, at 9:35pm.
Google Takes Down Blog Post: 'GRAPHIC VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads U.S. Journalist James Foley in Warning to Obama'
Here's the blog post from yesterday, now gone: "GRAPHIC VIDEO: Islamic State Beheads U.S. Journalist James Foley in Warning to Obama."
You can see the URL identifying the post:
I posted a statement to my cross-post at Theo Spark's, "Warning! Islamic State Beheads Kidnapped American Journalist James Wright Foley as 'Message to America'."
I suspect the post violated Google's terms of service, especially on posting violence. The thing is, I've posted beheading videos for years. As gruesome as these are, my policy is to have people see the evil and thus know the enemy. Some folks take a different view, and in fact there's a hashtag campaign not to share the Foley video. But whatever.
In any case, Google owns YouTube, and the video service is having a difficult time dealing with the use of its services to disseminate the Foley beheading. Here's the Scotsman, "YouTube will take down James Foley beheading video":
You can see the URL identifying the post:
I posted a statement to my cross-post at Theo Spark's, "Warning! Islamic State Beheads Kidnapped American Journalist James Wright Foley as 'Message to America'."
I suspect the post violated Google's terms of service, especially on posting violence. The thing is, I've posted beheading videos for years. As gruesome as these are, my policy is to have people see the evil and thus know the enemy. Some folks take a different view, and in fact there's a hashtag campaign not to share the Foley video. But whatever.
In any case, Google owns YouTube, and the video service is having a difficult time dealing with the use of its services to disseminate the Foley beheading. Here's the Scotsman, "YouTube will take down James Foley beheading video":
This afternoon a YouTube spokesman said: “YouTube has clear policies that prohibit content like gratuitous violence, hate speech and incitement to commit violent acts, and we remove videos violating these policies when flagged by our users.There you go. As always, I'll keep doing what I do, which is to get the important news out there on leftist and Islamic evil. Unfortunately, Google aligns with those very forces, but it is what it is.
Why Does Walter James Casper III Deny Evil?
It's a rhetorical question.
I know why Repsac3 denies evil. To confront it you have to perceive the world in terms of right and wrong, just and unjust, good and bad.
Leftists universally refrain from this dichotomy because they must to invert morality to achieve the perverted political agenda. From homosexuality (good and virtuous) to the war against Islamic terrorism (criminal and imperialistic), the left cannot elevate moral righteousness without undermining its own agenda, which is to undermine all that's right and good.
Here's Jonah Goldberg on Twitter yesterday:
And here's Walter James Casper III on Twitter some time back.
There is evil in the world. If you don't confront it you are joining it. Repsac3 long ago went over to the dark side, which is why I will continue to expose his demonic political agenda and fight back against his stalking and harassment.
Same as it ever was.
I know why Repsac3 denies evil. To confront it you have to perceive the world in terms of right and wrong, just and unjust, good and bad.
Leftists universally refrain from this dichotomy because they must to invert morality to achieve the perverted political agenda. From homosexuality (good and virtuous) to the war against Islamic terrorism (criminal and imperialistic), the left cannot elevate moral righteousness without undermining its own agenda, which is to undermine all that's right and good.
Here's Jonah Goldberg on Twitter yesterday:
People looking to put ISIS in "context" desperately avoid most obvious context. They're evil. They do obviously evil things for evil ends.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 20, 2014And here's Walter James Casper III on Twitter some time back.
"To perceive 'evil' is an attempt to deny that we are all one. We have a myth that relates to this. The myth of God and Satan."
— W. James Casper (@repsac3) August 11, 2014There is evil in the world. If you don't confront it you are joining it. Repsac3 long ago went over to the dark side, which is why I will continue to expose his demonic political agenda and fight back against his stalking and harassment.
Same as it ever was.
New Poll Shows Race Tightening for #NCSEN
At Politico, "Democratic poll: Kay Hagan lead narrows."
It's Public Policy Polling, a Democrat firm that polls for Daily Kos.
They were ranked most accurate after the 2012 election, so there's that.
It's Public Policy Polling, a Democrat firm that polls for Daily Kos.
They were ranked most accurate after the 2012 election, so there's that.
Race Hustler Ta-Nehisi Coates Demands Reparations for #Ferguson
It's been awhile since I've blogged about this idiot. From last May, "Ta-Nehisi Coates' Insidious, Invidious 'Case for Reparations'."
And now here he comes, continuing his race hustling shakedown scam, at the Atlantic, "Reparations for Ferguson."
And now here he comes, continuing his race hustling shakedown scam, at the Atlantic, "Reparations for Ferguson."
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Missouri Governor Calls for 'Vigorous Prosecution' in #Ferguson Black Shakedown Shuffle
At Gateway Pundit, "MO Governor DEMANDS #Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson be Prosecuted (Video)."
And here's the shakedown shuffle, with black shakedown artist, Spike Lee, "Race Hustler Spike Lee: “Something Smells BAD in Ferguson and It’s Not Just the Tear Gas” (Video)."
More on Twitter:
And here's the shakedown shuffle, with black shakedown artist, Spike Lee, "Race Hustler Spike Lee: “Something Smells BAD in Ferguson and It’s Not Just the Tear Gas” (Video)."
More on Twitter:
Dear State of Missouri,
You must impeach @GovJayNixon for what he says at 3:26 in this video.
http://t.co/NzVDl28BHN
— FloridaJayhawk (@HouseCracka) August 20, 2014"ITS WRONG FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO SAY WHAT HE SAID TONIGHT" LT GOV MISSOURI DROPS HAMMER ON GOV!!!!!
— FloridaJayhawk (@HouseCracka) August 20, 2014Barack Obama is using @GovJayNixon to destroy the judicial process in America.
Witness Tampering
Grand Jury Tampering
Case Tampering
— FloridaJayhawk (@HouseCracka) August 20, 2014Obama wanted a RACE WAR in Missouri & @GovJayNixon just put a truckload of gasoline on the fire tonight. @kmov @stltoday @ksdknews @FOX2now
— FloridaJayhawk (@HouseCracka) August 20, 2014Vile Anti-Semitism at Code Pink Protest in Oakland
From the San Francisco Voice for Israel, which covered the protest today in Oakland.
Vile signage at @codepink's protest at Sen. Barbara Boxer's office pic.twitter.com/HUPJY6kaUE
— SFV4I (@SFV4I) August 20, 2014Chants from todays @codepink protest in Oakland included "We support the Intifada" and "Go back to Germany"
— SFV4I (@SFV4I) August 20, 2014Curmudgeonly Take on the Ice Bucket Challenge
From Bill Dwyre, at the Los Angeles Times, "Throwing some cold water on the Ice Bucket Challenge":
Plus, some bonus video from CNN:
Apologies here if I get less than giddy over millions of extra dollars coming in because people dump water on their heads. I have two problems with it.RTWT.
First, I lost one of my best friends to this evil thing. I saw the deterioration of the body, the continuing sharpness of the mind and the total dissolution of hope. His name was John Rountree, and he has been gone for almost three years now. He was 65. I see film clips of Pete Frates. He is 29.
One could be the other, right down to the hesitant steps, then the slurred speech and soon the motorized wheelchair with the computer serving as the voice. ALS plays no favorites with age. It plays no favorites, period.
If, at this time next year, or a few years down the line, there is an ALS breakthrough and it is traceable, even minutely, to the money raised through this Internet furor, I will write 17 columns praising the human spirit and its current technological driver.
But at the moment, pouring water on our heads, or each other's, seems a slightly distasteful disconnect to the reality of ALS.
Certainly and hopefully, it is not the intention of people such as LeBron James or Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer or Jimmy Fallon — or the thousands of other celebrity types who have done this and got huge Internet attention — to further their own brand.
Still, I wish more had said, when challenged, that pouring water on heads, with its accompanying attention-grabbing and frivolity, didn't quite mesh with the cause. ALS isn't the least bit funny.
A few did, including the president of the United States.
The good news is that the money will keep the researchers researching. The bad news is that $13 million probably doesn't buy as many test tubes as it used to...
Plus, some bonus video from CNN:
VIDEO: Suspect Shown Spraying Anti-Semitic Graffiti Outside Staten Island School
This is more common with the Obama-Democrats in power.
Sick.
At CBS News New York, "Police: Suspect Sprayed Anti-Semitic Graffiti Outside Staten Island School."
Sick.
At CBS News New York, "Police: Suspect Sprayed Anti-Semitic Graffiti Outside Staten Island School."
Jessica Simpson Introduces 'The Signature Fragrance'
She's back with a new fragrance, the lovely Jessica.
HAT TIP: Egotastic!, "Jessica Simpson in ‘The Signature Fragrance’."
HAT TIP: Egotastic!, "Jessica Simpson in ‘The Signature Fragrance’."
Monday, August 18, 2014
VIDEO: #Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson Shown Standing Over Body of Suspect Michael Brown
At the Washington Post, "New video purports to show the moments after Michael Brown’s death."
Via CNN, "Piaget Crenshaw, a witness to the Michael Brown shooting, talks with CNN's Michaela Pereira."
This woman was in the news days ago with video from the same location and angle, and apparently she waited until Monday to release the clip of Officer Wilson standing over the body.
Via CNN, "Piaget Crenshaw, a witness to the Michael Brown shooting, talks with CNN's Michaela Pereira."
This woman was in the news days ago with video from the same location and angle, and apparently she waited until Monday to release the clip of Officer Wilson standing over the body.
CNN Spites Conservative Dana Loesch, Runs Bombshell 'Friend of Officer' Interview Without Proper Attribution — #Ferguson
It's a perpetual revolt in Ferguson, Missouri, and I'm late to blogging this evening, so I don't hope to share any under-reported news.
However, I think it's pretty significant that here we are on Monday, after the long weekend of rioting, and events have confirmed what Dana Loesch found out in her interview from last Friday: "Alleged Friend of Officer Darren Wilson Offers His Side."
I blogged this story with multiple updates, "Suspect Mike Brown, Seen with Cigars 'Connected to Robbery', Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson — #Ferguson," and "AUDIO: New #Ferguson Witness Corroborates How Suspect Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson."
Also, "Private Autopsy Corroborates How Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer, Shots Fired to His Front — #Ferguson."
Now here's CNN's report on the "officer interview," attributing the source as "FM NewsTalk 97.1," with no "by-line" attribution, thus dissing Dana's outstanding journalistic coverage:
Here's the response on Twitter. Spiteful indeed:
No doubt. Dana's coverage offered a "potential bombshell" on the riots, and she deserves full by-name attribution.
RELATED: The accounts at the Friday interview are being confirmed by multiple witnesses. At Gateway Pundit, "BOMBSHELL!… Reporter: A Dozen Witnesses Confirm #Ferguson Cop’s Version of Brown Shooting."
However, I think it's pretty significant that here we are on Monday, after the long weekend of rioting, and events have confirmed what Dana Loesch found out in her interview from last Friday: "Alleged Friend of Officer Darren Wilson Offers His Side."
I blogged this story with multiple updates, "Suspect Mike Brown, Seen with Cigars 'Connected to Robbery', Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson — #Ferguson," and "AUDIO: New #Ferguson Witness Corroborates How Suspect Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson."
Also, "Private Autopsy Corroborates How Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer, Shots Fired to His Front — #Ferguson."
Now here's CNN's report on the "officer interview," attributing the source as "FM NewsTalk 97.1," with no "by-line" attribution, thus dissing Dana's outstanding journalistic coverage:
Here's the response on Twitter. Spiteful indeed:
Hi @CNN please get your credit correct http://t.co/JQd90nf7m7
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 18, 2014Spiteful @CNN used @DLoesch audio crediting only her local affiliate. pic.twitter.com/QmhgOdZEIY
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 18, 2014. @CNN asked me on for this evening. Have to say no after this.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 18, 2014Potential bombshell in Ferguson shooting: CNN now reporting what alleged friend of Darren Wilson told @DLoesch: http://t.co/WM7MdjNE7J
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 18, 2014No doubt. Dana's coverage offered a "potential bombshell" on the riots, and she deserves full by-name attribution.
I swear @CNN, you're just pilfering @DLoesch by running "Josie" audio with no by-name, interviewer attribution. That really sucks.
— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 19, 2014RELATED: The accounts at the Friday interview are being confirmed by multiple witnesses. At Gateway Pundit, "BOMBSHELL!… Reporter: A Dozen Witnesses Confirm #Ferguson Cop’s Version of Brown Shooting."
Witnesses, Commentators Claimed Mike Brown Shot in the Back, But Not So Much After All — #Ferguson
I don't know how many times I heard "shot in the back" in the immediate reports and commentary on the Michael Brown shooting. Leftists lied to get their narrative dominating media reports, and it's funny how some on Twitter are still claiming he was shot from behind.
It's all an information battlespace, and as more information comes out, leftists are losing it decisively this time around.
It's all an information battlespace, and as more information comes out, leftists are losing it decisively this time around.
Weird. Eyewitnesses said he was shot 8 times. In the back. • Autopsy Shows #MikeBrown Was Struck 6 Times. In Front. http://t.co/nzgnrTTHlA
— Vern Demerest (@TxAv8r) August 18, 2014Brown wasn't shot "execution style" in the back autopsy shows. http://t.co/lDx29LHVLW #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/VdFHnlHetw
— Chris Loesch (@ChrisLoesch) August 18, 2014.@getatnard @ 9:00 Dorian says #MikeBrown was shot in the back. #Ferguson @LawSelfDefense
https://t.co/NwLSj4dEWp
— coreshift (@coreshift) August 18, 2014Sunday, August 17, 2014
Private Autopsy Corroborates How Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer, Shots Fired to His Front — #Ferguson
Following-up on my earlier reports, "Suspect Mike Brown, Seen with Cigars 'Connected to Robbery', Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson — #Ferguson," and "AUDIO: New #Ferguson Witness Corroborates How Suspect Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson."
At the New York Times, "Autopsy Shows Michael Brown Was Struck at Least 6 Times."
At the New York Times, "Autopsy Shows Michael Brown Was Struck at Least 6 Times."
BREAKING: Michael Brown Was Shot IN CHEST As He Charged #Ferguson Cop – Autopsy Released http://t.co/4MJYGXnXH3 via @gatewaypundit
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 18, 2014BREAKING: Michael Brown Was Shot IN CHEST.... Not in the Back – GO HOME PROTESTERS! http://t.co/ZmMheEBHYW via @gatewaypundit
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 18, 2014VIDEO: New Violence, Molotov Cocktails, Tear Gas in #Ferguson Protest War Zone — UPDATED! — REPORTS: OFFICER DOWN!
Some reports on Twitter:
Also at CNN, "Late Sunday night, a day of peaceful protests devolved into a night of gunfire, Molotov cocktails and tear gas."
Plus video:
UPDATE:
Molotov cocktails being thrown at police. Tactical units on scene. Please leave the area!
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) August 18, 2014
Cops made concessions. Pulled back. Looting and molotovs continued. No more mr nice guy. #Ferguson
— Shnyda (@ShnydaOne) August 18, 2014
They throwing molotovs at police officers. They are not joking. They are no longer playing. The people of Ferguson want blood now.
— Ellis Johnson (@EllisJohnson94) August 18, 2014
Masked white dude with a hammer and sickle shirt rolling a shopping cart full of molotovs lmao
#ferguson
— We Are All MikeBrown (@ModernLeftist2) August 18, 2014
Also at CNN, "Late Sunday night, a day of peaceful protests devolved into a night of gunfire, Molotov cocktails and tear gas."
Plus video:
UPDATE:
Officer Down!! At US Bank in #Ferguson !!!
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 18, 2014BREAKING: Shoot-out in progress - Police and Protesters - North of the QT in #Ferguson
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 18, 2014PROTESTER DOWN! #Ferguson Protester Shot Down on Street (VIDEO) http://t.co/e3z28dyZSH via @gatewaypundit
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 18, 2014AUDIO: New #Ferguson Witness Corroborates How Suspect Mike Brown Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson
Follow-up to my earlier report, "Suspect Mike Brown, Seen with Cigars 'Connected to Robbery', Bum-Rushed Officer Darren Wilson — #Ferguson."
And now here's Gateway Pundit, "EYEWITNESS AT SCENE OF CRIME Vindicates #Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson in #MikeBrown Shooting (VIDEO With Captions)."
This new eyewitness account corroborates the account given by the friend of Officer Darren Wilson in an interview with Dana Loesch, "Alleged Friend of Officer Darren Wilson Offers His Side."
Here's the new account at the link, "Mike Brown Witness Audio - 'He Came Back Towards Police'."
And now here's Gateway Pundit, "EYEWITNESS AT SCENE OF CRIME Vindicates #Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson in #MikeBrown Shooting (VIDEO With Captions)."
This new eyewitness account corroborates the account given by the friend of Officer Darren Wilson in an interview with Dana Loesch, "Alleged Friend of Officer Darren Wilson Offers His Side."
Here's the new account at the link, "Mike Brown Witness Audio - 'He Came Back Towards Police'."
New #Ferguson race-mob narrative: Even if #thug #MikeBrown was rushing the cop he shouldn't have shot so many times! #HandsUpDontShoot
— Progressives Today (@ProgsToday) August 17, 2014#1 How’d he get from there to there?
#2 Because he ran, the police was still in the truck – cause he was like over the truck
{crosstalk}
#2 But him and the police was both in the truck, then he ran – the police got out and ran after him
{crosstalk}
#2 Then the next thing I know he doubled back toward him cus – the police had his gun drawn already on him –
#1. Oh, the police got his gun
#2 The police kept dumpin on him, and I’m thinking the police kept missing – he like – be like – but he kept coming toward him
{crosstalk}
#2 Police fired shots – the next thing I know – the police was missing
#1 The Police?
#2 The Police shot him
#1 Police?
"You Say 'Radical Lesbian Man Hater' Like It's a Bad Thing..."
Heh, from Robert Stacy McCain's interactions with "Rebel Grrl" on Twitter:
Modern feminism, in less than 140 characters. Thanks! @queenfeminist #fem2 pic.twitter.com/kDlGCZ6NpS
— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) August 17, 2014VIDEO: NAACP President Slams 'Character Assassination' of Gangsta Thug Michael Brown - #Ferguson
Remember, this is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a relic of the past.
If you called a black American a "colored person" today you'd be attacked as a racist faster than you can say Al Sharpton!
And of course, it's no "character assassination." Mike Brown was gangsta thug.
At CBS "Face the Nation":
If you called a black American a "colored person" today you'd be attacked as a racist faster than you can say Al Sharpton!
And of course, it's no "character assassination." Mike Brown was gangsta thug.
At CBS "Face the Nation":
More Police Departments Outfitting Policemen with Wearable Cameras
Well, Officer Darren Wilson sure could've used one, although we haven't heard from him yet, so more on that later.
At WSJ, "More Officers Wearing Body Cameras" (via Google):
At WSJ, "More Officers Wearing Body Cameras" (via Google):
More police departments are giving officers wearable cameras: http://t.co/YlGr0fmhi4 pic.twitter.com/MUNPEJdNg8
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 17, 2014More police departments are outfitting policemen with wearable cameras that tape what officers see as they do their job, providing a record in the aftermath of incidents like the one in Ferguson, Mo., where a policeman shot and killed an unarmed black teen.More.
The cameras have shown promise in reducing incidents involving use of force as well as citizen complaints, according to new studies. Worn on officers' lapels, glasses or hats, the cameras can document a more definitive version of police work.
"If you look at what's happening in Ferguson—basically you have two entirely different versions of events," said Michael White, a professor of criminology at Arizona State University. "If that officer was wearing a body-worn camera we could just go to the tape."
Dr. White, who has studied the use of the cameras, said "there's tremendous potential to head off these types of incidents from blowing up afterwards."
In a press conference earlier this week, Thomas Jackson, chief of the Ferguson police department, said the department had only recently been budgeted $5,000 to buy a limited number of dashboard cameras and body cameras for officers. Mr. Jackson said the department had not yet put them into use at the time of the shooting but plans on incorporating them into vehicles and on officers soon.
In the Southern California city of Rialto, the number of citizen complaints against police dropped from 24 to 3 in the first year that the patrol officers began wearing cameras in 2012. Use-of-force incidents plummeted from 61 to 25 during the same period.
Tony Farrar, Rialto's chief of police said, "When you talk about putting a camera on somebody, human nature is going to dictate that you're going mind your p's and q's and you're going to be on the best behavior."
"At the same, I think it's had an impact on citizens—if they know you're wearing a camera they too will be on their best behavior," he said.
'Cassandra Rules' — 'Not Even Mad' as Media Outlets Identify Location of #Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson's Home
Man, she's a blood-thirsty wannabe cop-killer:
I'm... not even mad...
DEATH WISH? Media Draws Map to Home of #Ferguson Police Officer Who Shot #MikeBrown
http://t.co/KhHpqf9LlR
— Cassandra (@CassandraRules) August 17, 2014REVEALED! Photo of #Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson
At Big Journalism, "YAHOO! NEWS PUBLISHES PHOTOS OF FERGUSON OFFICER DARREN WILSON."
This is Officer Darren Wilson as he received a recent commendation from his department. pic.twitter.com/BlZQ8RimA8
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) August 16, 2014#Ferguson: Cycle of Racial Tension Boils Over Into Rage
The obligatory socio-political analysis, at the New York Times, "Around St. Louis, a Circle of Rage":
FERGUSON, Mo. — Garland Moore, a hospital worker, lived in this St. Louis suburb for much of his 33 years, a period in which a largely white community has become a largely black one.Keep reading.
He attended its schools and is raising his family in this place of suburban homes and apartment buildings on the outskirts of a struggling Midwest city. And over time, he has felt his life to be circumscribed by Ferguson’s demographics.
Mr. Moore, who is black, talks of how he has felt the wrath of the police here and in surrounding suburbs for years — roughed up during a minor traffic stop and prevented from entering a park when he was wearing St. Louis Cardinals red.
And last week, as he stood at a vigil for an unarmed 18-year-old shot dead by the police — a shooting that provoked renewed street violence and looting early Saturday — Mr. Moore heard anger welling and listened to a shout of: “We’re tired of the racist police department.”
The origins of the area’s complex social and racial history date to the 19th century when the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County went their separate ways, leading to the formation of dozens of smaller communities outside St. Louis. Missouri itself has always been a state with roots in both the Midwest and the South, and racial issues intensified in the 20th century as St. Louis became a stopping point for the northern migration of Southern blacks seeking factory jobs in Detroit and Chicago.
As African-Americans moved into the city and whites moved out, real estate agents and city leaders, in a pattern familiar elsewhere in the country, conspired to keep blacks out of the suburbs through the use of zoning ordinances and restrictive covenants. But by the 1970s, some of those barriers had started to fall, and whites moved even farther away from the city. These days, Ferguson is like many of the suburbs around St. Louis, inner-ring towns that accommodated white flight decades ago but that are now largely black. And yet they retain a white power structure.
Although about two-thirds of Ferguson residents are black, its mayor and five of its six City Council members are white. Only three of the town’s 53 police officers are black.
Turnout for local elections in Ferguson has been poor. The mayor, James W. Knowles III, noted his disappointment with the turnout — about 12 percent — in the most recent mayoral election during a City Council meeting in April. Patricia Bynes, a black woman who is the Democratic committeewoman for the Ferguson area, said the lack of black involvement in local government was partly the result of the black population’s being more transient in small municipalities and less attached to them.
There is also some frustration among blacks who say town government is not attuned to their concerns.
Aliyah Woods, 45, once petitioned Ferguson officials for a sign that would warn drivers that a deaf family lived on that block. But the sign never came. “You get tired,” she said. “You keep asking, you keep asking. Nothing gets done.”
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