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Killer Cops
Author: BobR    Date: 2014-08-20 10:22:06

Last month I wrote a blog decrying the right-wing anti-government wackos, nihilists, and anarchists who deliberately target police. I got some push back for it because the police can make themselves less sympathetic when they routinely violate the laws they are tasked with upholding and enforcing.

I still stand by that blog from a "violence is a bad solution" viewpoint, but holy cow - recent events are making it very difficult to support the police. I've always been of the mind that when you try to protect the bad apples, you end up spoiling the whole bushel. That goes for political parties, and it goes for police. That thin blue line is going to strangle the whole profession.

The events in Ferguson Missouri are well-documented, so I won't rehash them as if you've been living in a bubble. Suffice to say, by all appearances, a cop murdered an unarmed teen who had his hands up. The cop will undoubtedly say he was (or felt) threatened, but that's hardly the issue. If you feel threatened by an unarmed teen with his hands up, you have no business being a cop.

It's certainly natural for the community to be outraged. The police are supposed to "protect and serve". When they panic and murder a kid, then bring in military hardware to deal with the aftermath, there is no good outcome that will result. The tone deafness is appalling. Charging the officer would be a good start. Allowing the community to vent in a community meeting would defuse the situation. Maintaining an adversarial relationship between the police and an entire community goes against the very nature of why the police are ostensibly there.

It also certainly doesn't help when they show up dressed and armed as if they were taking on the Soviet army. There have been numerous blogs and TV segments about the militarization of the police. The reality is: when your tools are a box of hammers, every problem looks like a nail. Why talk when you can storm in with an overwhelming show of force? That's what the army does because they are entering enemy territory. If you consider the neighborhood that you are supposed to be protecting "enemy territory", then the problem has very deep roots.

The police may say that they need this for protection because the "criminals" are armed to the teeth. That may be true when dealing with - oh, I don't know - the Bundy clan out west, but it certainly isn't the case with bottle-throwing teenagers. I'm trying to remember that bloodbath out west when the National Guard came in to clear out the "patriots" who were threatening federal workers trying to enforce a court order. Oh yeah - they didn't.

The biggest problem with all of this is the uneven application of law enforcement. The previously mentioned self-styled militias were allowed to threaten the police with no retribution, rich white women get no jail time when shoplifting, but a black teenager who supposedly stole a cigar receives an execution on the streets. It's not just black kids either.

When lethal force becomes the go-to for the police, when it becomes routine, when it becomes accepted by the power structure... when victims are demonized to excuse the police officers' actions... then we have lost what it means to be America. We are all guaranteed a fair and honest trial by our own Constitution, and the police that take it upon themselves to be judge, jury, and executioner have no business calling themselves Americans. They have more in common with the terrorists who use violence to strike fear into our psyches.
 

31 comments (Latest Comment: 08/20/2014 19:54:34 by livingonli)
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Comment by wickedpam on 08/20/2014 13:09:34
Morning

Comment by Raine on 08/20/2014 13:10:57
good morning… Mala, why is you time stamp on the post say 9:09:34 when my computer says 9:04?

Comment by BobR on 08/20/2014 13:15:48
Quote by Raine:
good morning… Mala, why is you time stamp on the post say 9:09:34 when my computer says 9:04?

The clock at the ISP must be off

Comment by wickedpam on 08/20/2014 13:21:34
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
good morning… Mala, why is you time stamp on the post say 9:09:34 when my computer says 9:04?

The clock at the ISP must be off



Nuh uh - I was briefly visiting the future. Back now

Comment by Raine on 08/20/2014 13:26:13
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
good morning… Mala, why is you time stamp on the post say 9:09:34 when my computer says 9:04?

The clock at the ISP must be off



Nuh uh - I was briefly visiting the future. Back now



Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/20/2014 13:47:14
My time stamp is still in Robin Williams mode.

Date: NaN/NaN/NaN 00:NaN:NaN

Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/20/2014 13:49:26
The person who came up with the term "fracking" must have been a Don Martin fan.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/trojanrabbit74/thehunters2_zps21184d03.jpg


This is by far my favorite Don Martin cartoon, never ceases to crack me up.

Comment by TriSec on 08/20/2014 14:12:17
Meanwhile, we continue to be 'Good Germans' and nobody lifts a finger to stop it. Just change 'Jew' to 'Muslim' and I think we're already there.

Comment by BobR on 08/20/2014 14:47:38
Quote by TriSec:
Meanwhile, we continue to be 'Good Germans' and nobody lifts a finger to stop it. Just change 'Jew' to 'Muslim' and I think we're already there.

I think I missed something.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 14:52:11
Mornin' all.. <- Iced Tea

Even tho the doc told me no extremely hot or cold liquids for a few days, it's surprisingly soothing!

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 15:18:50
Oooh.. I just noticed they opened a Trader Joes near me - and it's on a busline!

Fuck you, Whole Foods!

Comment by Raine on 08/20/2014 15:25:02
Quote by Scoopster:
Oooh.. I just noticed they opened a Trader Joes near me - and it's on a busline!

Fuck you, Whole Foods!
Their Sumatra Coffee is sublime!!!!

Comment by wickedpam on 08/20/2014 15:30:06
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Oooh.. I just noticed they opened a Trader Joes near me - and it's on a busline!

Fuck you, Whole Foods!
Their Sumatra Coffee is sublime!!!!



I like their Green Tea, Guilt Reduced Mac and Cheese and their pork chops and ground beef taste better then other grocery chains stuff.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 15:31:55
Seriously CNN?

This is what happens when corporate news organizations take shortcuts in verifying independent reports before just throwing them on the 24-hour cable broadcast.

They need to do the responsible thing and issue an on-air correction, and make sure it's broadcast a LOT more than just once.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/20/2014 15:46:48
Good morning, bloggers!! I hope that everyone is doing well.

BobR, I think that too many cops want order not justice.

TriSec, I get the reference. Firing on reporters, throwing tear gas at them and pointing guns at protesters does not strike me as what FDR would have done but what some others in his era would have done.

Comment by Raine on 08/20/2014 15:48:49
Quote by Scoopster:
Seriously CNN?

This is what happens when corporate news organizations take shortcuts in verifying independent reports before just throwing them on the 24-hour cable broadcast.

They need to do the responsible thing and issue an on-air correction, and make sure it's broadcast a LOT more than just once.
I swear, I am getting to the point where I am relying more and more on LOCAL news because of shit like this.


Comment by Raine on 08/20/2014 16:00:18
Florida Couple ….. A bright spot for once!

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 16:59:19
Looks like another Obama presser about the situation in MO is about to start.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 17:01:01
Or rather it's about ISIS and the execution of James Foley..

Comment by Raine on 08/20/2014 17:01:12
President speaking.


Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 17:07:34
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/20/2014 17:16:29
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.



Not good. They have a long history of promoting a political agenda.

I think that Obama should heed Thomas Frank on breaking up monopolies and how to wreck the GOP in 3 easy steps..

Comment by livingonli on 08/20/2014 18:30:56
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Which one(s)? I know Sinclair has also just acquired WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the DC area. We really need to go back to enforcing Sherman Anti-Trust Act which hasn't been done in 30 years.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 18:36:57
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Which one(s)? I know Sinclair has also just acquired WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the DC area. We really need to go back to enforcing Sherman Anti-Trust Act which hasn't been done in 30 years.

WJAR-10. Media General is the current owner but they're merging with LIN who already owns two stations in the market.

Comment by livingonli on 08/20/2014 18:48:03
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Which one(s)? I know Sinclair has also just acquired WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the DC area. We really need to go back to enforcing Sherman Anti-Trust Act which hasn't been done in 30 years.

WJAR-10. Media General is the current owner but they're merging with LIN who already owns two stations in the market.

Which even under the current rules is still illegal because a company can't own 3 stations in a market with all stations affiliated with the Big 4 networks. One duopoly was blogged because it would have put Fox and ABC under one owner in Salt Lake City.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 18:50:49
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Which one(s)? I know Sinclair has also just acquired WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the DC area. We really need to go back to enforcing Sherman Anti-Trust Act which hasn't been done in 30 years.

WJAR-10. Media General is the current owner but they're merging with LIN who already owns two stations in the market.

Which even under the current rules is still illegal because a company can't own 3 stations in a market with all stations affiliated with the Big 4 networks. One duopoly was blogged because it would have put Fox and ABC under one owner in Salt Lake City.

Figures.. That's probably why they're selling the station to Sinclair.

There's a few other stations changing hands across the country on this one.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/20/2014 19:07:03
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Which one(s)? I know Sinclair has also just acquired WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the DC area. We really need to go back to enforcing Sherman Anti-Trust Act which hasn't been done in 30 years.

WJAR-10. Media General is the current owner but they're merging with LIN who already owns two stations in the market.

Which even under the current rules is still illegal because a company can't own 3 stations in a market with all stations affiliated with the Big 4 networks. One duopoly was blogged because it would have put Fox and ABC under one owner in Salt Lake City.

Figures.. That's probably why they're selling the station to Sinclair.

There's a few other stations changing hands across the country on this one.

And if I lived 10 miles further south (and I was still getting cable) I would have both the Boston and Providence affiliates for CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX.

As it is if the weather is JUST RIGHT I can pick up the Providence (well, really Rehoboth) stations with an indoor antenna.

Growing up being pretty much equidistant from Boston and Providence, selecting stations involved turning the antenna either North or South.

Comment by livingonli on 08/20/2014 19:24:31
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Scoopster:
Ewww... the best local TV station in my area is being sold to Sinclair Broadcasting. Yes, these assholes.

Which one(s)? I know Sinclair has also just acquired WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the DC area. We really need to go back to enforcing Sherman Anti-Trust Act which hasn't been done in 30 years.

WJAR-10. Media General is the current owner but they're merging with LIN who already owns two stations in the market.

Which even under the current rules is still illegal because a company can't own 3 stations in a market with all stations affiliated with the Big 4 networks. One duopoly was blogged because it would have put Fox and ABC under one owner in Salt Lake City.

Figures.. That's probably why they're selling the station to Sinclair.

There's a few other stations changing hands across the country on this one.

And if I lived 10 miles further south (and I was still getting cable) I would have both the Boston and Providence affiliates for CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX.

As it is if the weather is JUST RIGHT I can pick up the Providence (well, really Rehoboth) stations with an indoor antenna.

Growing up being pretty much equidistant from Boston and Providence, selecting stations involved turning the antenna either North or South.

Of course, Sinclair would effectively own the NBC, CBS, and Fox stations in Providence which isn't supposed to be allowed either.

Here's how New York's duopolies break down;
CBS owns WCBS-2 (CBS) and WLNY-55 (independent)
NBC owns WNBC-4 (NBC) and WNJU-47 (Telemundo)
Fox owns WNYW-5 (Fox) and WWOR-9 (My Network)
Univision owns WXTV-41 (Univision) and WFUT-68, WFTY-67 (Unimas). WFTY is considered a repeater of WFUT so I guess they are treated as one.

And throw PBS into the equation, WNET-13 also owns WLIW-21 and operates after Christie unloaded control of NJTV (23-Camden, 50-Montclair, 52-Trenton, 58-New Brunswick) a few years back.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/20/2014 19:46:38
Quote by livingonli:
Of course, Sinclair would effectively own the NBC, CBS, and Fox stations in Providence which isn't supposed to be allowed either.

Nono, Sinclair would own the NBC station and I think MeTV, LIN/Media General would own CBS and Fox, and the ABC station is owned by Citadel. No idea about CW or the spanish language stations.

Comment by livingonli on 08/20/2014 19:54:34
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by livingonli:
Of course, Sinclair would effectively own the NBC, CBS, and Fox stations in Providence which isn't supposed to be allowed either.

Nono, Sinclair would own the NBC station and I think MeTV, LIN/Media General would own CBS and Fox, and the ABC station is owned by Citadel. No idea about CW or the spanish language stations.

I think CBS owned the CW station since it's master control used to come out of the same building with WBZ and WSBK but they might have sold it OTA Broadcasting now owns that station.