There’s a broad gulf between what should happen and what does happen in the criminal justice system. – Ken White
As you know if you’ve been reading for the last two Sundays, Radley Balko is taking a sabbatical from his blog, The Agitator, to write a book entitled Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces. In the meantime he’s asked Ken and Patrick of Popehat, Baylen Linnekin of Keep Food Legal, Drew Johnson of the Chattanooga Free Press and a certain harlot to fill in for him, and every Sunday I’ll catch you up on what went on there during the week. This is not to say Radley doesn’t ever look up from his grindstone; he still takes breaks to check Twitter (thus supplying me with some of the links I post in my guest columns), to make short posts (such as this video clip in which Sheriff Andy Taylor explains the 4th amendment to Opie), or to appear on Stossel. One of those quickie posts was a comparison of two recruiting videos for two police departments which couldn’t be more different; the absurd video from Newport Beach, California (which made police work look like an action movie) went viral as a result of his posting it …and if he can do that with something he just slapped together in his spare time, just imagine what he can do when he tries (as with this post on how police fatalities have dropped while police murders of citizens have risen sharply).
Due to a few vacations and other prior commitments some of my fellow guest bloggers were a bit quieter this week than last; Ken posted “In Which You Discover Only What The State Thinks You Should”, explaining why the ACLU is suing the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office over a “special directive” ordering prosecutors to violate the United States Constitution by hiding exculpatory evidence from criminal defendants. Patrick posted a links column, several music videos, a mock obituary of the fictional detective Encyclopedia Brown (in observance of the death of his creator, Donald J. Sobol), and a wickedly Swiftian satire on the tendency of politicians and the media to blame senseless murders on elements of the shooter’s background that have absolutely nothing to do with his homicidal tendencies. Drew posted a links page, a story about rescuing a bunny, and a strong criticism of racists in Tennessee who are angry because their governor appointed a Muslim woman as director of the state’s export bureau.
My contributions for the week started with “Range of Experience”, an argument that there is no such thing as a “typical whore” (supported by links to all of my harlotographies). On Wednesday I cross-posted “Pull the String”, on Friday I featured a video of “Killer Queen” and today I shared pictures of my dog Lady. Finally, here are the links I posted this week:
- This week in Islam-related hoaxes. In the interest of fairness, here’s a non-Islam related one via Radley, who also pointed me to the next seven items and to this horrifying picture of a wet koala.
- CNN: “Iran already has a missile that could reach the US!” Sort of.
- There’s a vast dust cloud in the center of the Milky Way galaxy that smells like raspberries and rum.
- For a welcome change: a puppycide averted.
- Another isolated incident. Make that two.
- Headline and subhead of the day for Thursday, and headline of the day for yesterday.
- Six policies economists love and politicians hate.
- Today’s edition of “Never call the cops for any reason whatsoever”.
The next three came via Jesse Walker:
- Today is a red-letter day in alternate history.
- A brief catalog of slang terms of the types of clients who might visit an English brothel in 1795.
- Holy conflict of interest, Batman!
This one came from Grace:
The rest came from all sorts of places:
- Human evolution: what we can learn from stone tools and petrified stools, and a scientist (and regular reader) discusses why men love tits.
- Alaska town has had a cat as mayor for the last 15 years.
- Florida judges say, “Mens rea? What’s that?”
- The dumbest argument for censorship you’ll read today.
- The legislation whose penalties may end up killing more U.S. jobs than all the call centers in India combined.
- Georgia cops deactivate man’s Tourette’s Syndrome control device, then beat him for the resulting tics and verbal outbursts.
- Thor discovers text messaging.
- Washington judge rules it’s legal for cops to impersonate the owner of a seized cell phone in order to entrap people in the contact list.
- Two men detained for smuggling dangerous contraband candy across Canadian border.
- The Brady Campaign’s response to the Aurora, Colorado murders: guns are bad.
Wherever I find you writing Maggie, I’ll be following and reading. Seeing what Radley has to say is an integral part of every day but if he has to sabbatical, the people he has filling in are all as must read as they come.
Thank you, Bill! I’m trying to keep my Agitator content as Agitating as possible. 😉
Maggie:
While I’ve always thought Prostitution should be legal, I have to admit I really fell hook line and sinker for the ‘Trafficking ” crap until you opened my eyes about it. I read a book called “A crime so monstrous” and another one called Natashas and guess I fell right for the pitch. I figured you’re likely reading comments right now and just wondering if you happened to read either and if so – if you’d consider a post on them. I’m guessing anyone with a semblance of humanity will have a pretty strong reaction to either book, and it sets you up for the ‘solution’ which seems to be anti-trafficking rhetoric and law. Anyway, probably not the right venue but figured it’d be ok
I haven’t read those particular books, but you’d be amazed how many other books (and articles) like them there are, all saying essentially the same thing; moral panics are like that. You mustn’t feel bad about falling for it; the people behind this are extremely clever, calculated the “trafficking” hysteria as the best way to sell the anti-whore rhetoric and have even hired advertising agencies to promote their bill of goods.
i wonder when people are going to realise the truth about the reason of the U.S wars,whether it was in former Yugoslavia,Iraq or Afganistan.i cant beleive that there are still people who beleive that they are done to save the world,whether from Sadam,Milosevich etc.and if Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons then U.S or Israel should not have either but they do.if a signed treaty of the ban in nuclear weapons is getting ignored,U.S is the first country that ignores it.ridiculous claims of Iranians planning to eradicate U.S.which aims at making he U.S population afraid,so that another masacre of innocents for profit is justified,is just abhorrent.
Yes, they are done to save the world. If the war in Iraq (to take a recent example) had been fought for oil, US companies would have the oil now. This type of lie only discredits those on the Left who continue to repeat it.
At any rate the Left is responsible for the fact that we go overseas to get oil at all, since we have plenty here at home that they stop us from developing. Let’s start by resuming drilling here in California’s coastal waters.
You’re correct – none of those wars were fought for oil as we never got that oil. I spent many months guarding the Iraqi offshore oil terminal “ABOT” – and was proud to do so as we all knew the revenues that flowed through that terminal were essential to rebuilding the Iraqi nation after decades of Sadaam and numerous wars and sanctions.
Well – let me correct the above a bit – the wars WERE fought for oil inasfar as it’s free commerce is essential to the US and it’s allies. This is a good thing for everyone – even the Arabs but, we didn’t “steal” any oil.
What people don’t realize is this – if the US isn’t there, someone else will be. We got criticized for overthrowing the Shah – but the Soviets had the KGB in Iran at the same time and would have put their guy in had we not succeeded. In fact, they almost ended up with Iran and it was only a twist of fate that we managed to get the Shah in. The Shah – and he ran afoul of the mullahs why? For modernizing Iran, bringing Iran into the age of reason and attempting to give women greater civil rights. He had absolutely NO problems with the mullahs until he attempted to give women greater rights through his “White Revolution”. That’s when it started going south on him.
As far as Iran with nukes – to me, this isn’t even worth debating. The Ron Paul’s ARE gonna get their way. Iran WILL have a nuke. So we’ll know whether or not (very soon) if they act responsibly with it.
Count me as one who believes they will not. I predict grave consequences and I’ll accept all the “I told ya so’s” if I’m wrong on that.
what you say about rebuiting the nation is correct.one of the reasons the war was done was for american construction companies to make a profit out of rebuilting the destroyed bridges,houses etc.the war caused.some of those belong to Donald Rumsfeld,who is also a waepon seller.
I agree that the war was a terrible mistake, but thinking that our secret motive was to help the construction industry is just . . . well, in the interest of keeping the conversation friendly let’s just say it doesn’t appear to make sense. If Bush wanted to help the construction industry why not just rebuild the California freeway system?
i didnt say its just that.if we are to search the motives of any war the biggest is the profits that the weapon selling business has to make.
” If Bush wanted to help the construction industry why not just rebuild the California freeway system?”
Because that would be big government wasteful deficit-feeding evil evil evil government spending!!11!!!!eleven!111!!! But spending several times that much FOR FREEDOM is fine and dandy, and we’ll just pretend that military spending isn’t really government spending. Besides, rebuilding the California freeway system doesn’t give a penny to the military contractors.
What companies did Rumsfeld own that profited? I can’t think of a single one. Also – Rumsfeld was eventually fired by Bush for his handling of that war.
The only “smoking gun” ever found was Cheney’s connections to Haliburton. Haliburton WAS a big winner in rebuilding contracts but Cheney divested himself of all financial involvement in that company after the 2000 elections.
The only leg anyone has to stand on with regards to the claims about Cheney is that SOMEHOW …
1. He still felt some “allegiance” to Haliburton even though he wasn’t involved in the company or profiting from it and …
2. Somehow, as Vice President, an office with very little official authority – he was able to “manipulate” the award of contracts, in a department he had no control over in which no one ansered to him, without anyone in the system catching him.
And there’s not a shred of actual proof for either of the two assertions above. Only assertions … innuendo …
Twilight Zone.
In fact, it was many of our ALLIES who were upset that they didn’t get a “cut” in the rebuilding contracts – and that’s probably the reason for these wild rumors. The DoD announced that any nation that opposed American involvement in the war wouldn’t get contracts – and I holy hell agree with that. Therefore, France, Germany, and Russia were excluded from the rebuilding process for a number of years.
However, more stalwart allies like the Czech Republic – did receive contracts in rebuilding Iraq – why? Because the Czech’s are AWESOME! That’s why! 😉
However, it would appear that some of the nations who opposed the war initially are now allowed to profit from Iraq’s rebuilding such as … uhm …
Greece …
http://world.greekreporter.com/2011/11/23/iraq-signs-349-million-power-contract-with-greek-metka/
how are you sure that they are rumors?we know very little stuff of what is trully going on,but im sure that like everything that surrounds politics and especially war, things are very dirty.we dont even know exactly why Rumsfeld was fired.we know what they would have us beleive as always.but what im still interested in understanding is how the ”we saved them”phrase is justified.
What event are you talking?
The world war II invasion or the 1953 coup attempt?
What exactly is the time in Iran you’re talking about there? The Shah was our guy. Are you talking about the other Shah in world war 2 or the 1953 coup attempt?
Sorry I forget I posted that.
how exactly did Bush or Clinton save the world?they used the excuse that they would save Iraq and former Yugoslavia from their dictactors.what i see when i see refugees from theese countries is misery and beleive me noone considers american presidents to be saviours. they hate them.their countries are destroyed ,cancer, kids being born with dreadful deformities.the nations of the world killing each other so that rich people can become richer,thats what wars are always about.
Laida – Bush and Clinton aren’t saviors.
You have to understand U.S. war policy, something which was crystallized by our involvement in WWI and WWII – which were pivotal events for the United States and resulted in it ultimately becoming a superpower. The policy can be summed up like this …
“To not get involved EARLY means to get more DEEPLY involved later”.
Undeniably – these are the lessons of WWI and WWII – where we lost hundreds of thousands in each war. In each war – we delayed actual military involvement until the last possible second – and the price was high.
Since WWII – we’ve taken a more proactive stance. You can disagree with it … but we fought two wars in Europe only 20 years apart and lost several hundred thousands of our young men fighting there due to a “hand’s off” strategy in Europe. Since that time – we’ve lost barely a fraction of that number due to proactive involvement. The success can’t be argued with.
I’ll also tell you that I’m not a fan of Bill Clinton – but in 2001 I had the opportunity to vent my frustration over Kosovo to a British Diplomat who was visiting the US Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy – which I was attending at the time. He told me I had it ALL WRONG … that Clinton, in fact, was given an offer he could not refuse by the major European powers …
“If the US is in -it’s in … but if you’re not – you’re out for good and you’re OUT of everywhere!”
Other places I read – say that Clinton was personally offended by the genetic cleansing. However, the statement above is what was told to me personally by a Brit diplo who worked the Kosovo issues with the White House.
i said the saviours bit because i have seen it used many times to justify the wars.”Bush is saving the people of Iraq from Saddam”.is it not justified that i go mad everytime i listen to this?so many innocent people dead,children being born with severe deformities,cancer,misery,refugees.this is suffering,not salvation.
Hi Maggie,
“There’s a broad gulf between what should happen and what does happen in the criminal justice system.”
Samuel Adams has something he wants to say to your readers.
“The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule.” — Samuel Adams
You see…Samuel Adams was also a “nutter” like me who knew that government requires the “consent of the governed” which is why that phrase is used in the declaration of independence.
What has happened Maggie is this. In 1776 people KNEW how tyranny in guvment worked. It worked through the courts and king claiming jurisdiction over people and enforcing that jurisdiction under colour of law with thugs.
The american people of 1776 were not revolting over “taxes”. The boston tea party was a staged event and the whole revolution was a staged event.
What they were revolting over was the attempts by the king to introduce admiralty law courts onto the land and to subvert the due process of law. People were well aware that the due process of law was represented by a jury trial of ones peers drawn from the local community. This undermined the kings power as he had little influence at the local level.
All english kings since Henry the Lawgiver in 1100 have sought to subvert and control the due process of law. The best subversive document on that whole process is the Magna Carta. A brilliant deception if I say so myself.
“All warfare is deception”.
So you see. If you read Genesis 1:26 where the godS give dominion over all the earth to mankind you can see that there can be no lawful way any creation of God can be subject to any creation of another man without his consent. And this is what the general population in the colonies were very well aware of in 1776 and was exploited by the King in the deception called “the american revolution”.
Then they stealthily and slowly reintroduced the admiralty courts one little bit at a time generation after generation.
All courts in the US went back to admiralty jurisdiction in 1938 as a final and last step that was more than 140 years in the making. But the monarch has no power to ban “the law of nature” or “Natural Law”. The monarchs only have the power to deceive and to convince people that Natural Law does not exist. Samuel Adams is telling you he knew it existed as did most people in 1776 in the colonies.
Whenever I try to explain this to people now I point them to birds. The only thing a bird can do that a man can not is fly unassisted. Mankind is created by the same God and therefore men, in their natural state, should be as “free as the birds”.
Do birds have passports? Do they have “work permits”? Do they have “guvments” regulating their work and travel? Do they have “money”?
If you look at the birds and then look at yourself, you can see how life COULD be and you can see how life is. I choose to live life “like the birds” and refuse to be “helped” and “regulated” for “my supposed benefit” by obvious criminals. Not many people are willing to do that.
You moron. Do birds carry weapons with the specific intend to murder other birds en mass? Are birds actively employed in ripping off other birds? Do birds read the fucking bible? You really are quite stupid aren’t you. YOU and your selfishness and insanity are the reason that human beings need governance.
For your edification:
http://radicalhub.com/2011/10/04/radical-feminism-in-the-21st-century/
http://davinasquirrel.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/london-radical-feminist-conference-july-2012/
It’s fascinating to see the proponents of a dying movement claiming to be the “way of the future”; racist eugenicists were making similar claims 80 years ago. But then, radfems have always been delusional.
I just read though a ton of those posts and it’s kinda hot in a Gorean bondage way. It would probably make for pretty neat role playing sessions.
That may be because I accidentally extracted a bunch of pornography to the same directive and I’ve been reorganizing my collection as I was reading them.
Radfems do seem to have a large amount of political power, despite being an almost insignificantly tiny minority. I’d never heard of PIV before: Their slightly derogatory term for Penis-In-Vagina. They all seem to object to “PIV” sex being considered “normative”, and some even write extensively on how damaging PIV sex is for women.
Fundamentally, I have no idea how they would deal with the vast majority of heterosexual women who seek out and want close associations with men.
Fundamentally, I have no idea how they would deal with the vast majority of heterosexual women who seek out and want close associations with men.
Neofems deal with it by saying that any relationship or close contact with men is dangerous, abusive, boring, limiting, gender treason etc. They use every possible angle to induce neuroticism in their target audience.
They even attack other neofeminists that happen to have sons; even if the women in question are lesbian separatists.
The radfems claim they’ve been “underground” for 25 years. When Jill Brenneman was a radical feminist, she was invited to the White House twice. Perhaps they meant the War Room when they say “underground”.
Also, how many women have to die before PIV sex is finally eliminated? How many have to be sacrificed on the altar of that agenda? There is not a word spoken by the radfems on Universally Guaranteed Income for women (or men) at all.
I find it amusing that they’d put Sheila Jeffries in the same category as Ursula Leguin. Jeffries isn’t even fit tie Leguin’s shoelace.
Leguin is a genius. She’s gifted.
Jeffries is a fraud.
The police paramilitary stuff is usually justified as being necessary for officer safety. In fact according to BLS statistics being a police officer is a lot safer than being a farmer, roofer or logger. It is even safer than being a truck driver or a trash collector.
Police are supposed to be protecting us, the public, from danger. If they feel free to attack us whenever they don’t feel safe — even when they create the problem most of the time — then it’s time to fire them and do without them.
I’m just a little disappointed that in 15 comments nobody has yet mentioned tits, foot lickers, contraband candy or that horrifying koala.
Well, you see Maggie, that zombie koala kinda put me off my feed. So while I like tits of reasonable size, and am not all that in favor of footlicking, (and really like chocolate, egg shaped or otherwise) that zombie koala made me afraid that any cogitation on those other subjects would link inextricably to the image of that zombie koala, and that’s trauma that I can really do without.
Did I mention that the zombie koala really bothered me?
Possibly because that horrifying koala is photoshopped. Here’s the original: http://www.woosk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/wet.jpg
and here’s what a real koala’s open mouth looks like:
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/koala-dt-431×300.jpg
Oh, and tits. Just thought I should mention ’em.
Hah! I got the italics right this time! I freakin’ love italics!
Yeah, somebody on the Agitator pointed out it was Photoshopped, too. I honestly don’t know why they bothered; it’s pretty creepy to start with!
Alan,
Well, the original wet koala still looks “sternly pissed-off.” Kinda like a wet cat but without the hysteria and the claws. But, he doesn’t look like he wants to eat my brains. That’s an improvement.
Noted
“Never call the police for any reason whatsoever.”
It would be nice if we ccould call Ghostbusters.
Great photo of you with Radley.
I was so excited to meet him I was literally speechless. 😉
So Radley was wearing a hairpiece and had bolts installed on his neck? Maggie had the racing stripes in her hair? What’s up with that?
Oh yes! I’m definately enrolling with Newport Beach PD when I finish my degree. Don’t care if naturalisation takes seven years, I want it! 🙂