Deputies at LA Men's Central Jail face 'disgusting' assaults by inmates
By Gina Silva and Kelly Taylor
Fox 11
February 6, 2017
LOS ANGELES -- Inside the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail, security video shows inmates about to attack unsuspecting deputies. The assault is called "gassing," when inmates toss urine, feces or semen at the deputies.
“If it gets in their face, their eyes, you don't know what kind of diseases the inmates have. It's very traumatic for the staff,” Kelly Harrington, the Assistant Sheriff of Custody Operations, said.
Harrington says gassing happens at least 250 times a year at the Men's Central jail.
“Gassing is probably one of the most disgusting things that can happen in a prison or jail environment,” Harrington said. “It's not like being spat upon.”
This facility is 54 years old, making it one of the oldest county jails in California. Deputies say the way it was built endangers their lives.
“It's very antiquated, dated facility,” Men’s Central Jail Captain Joseph Dempsey said. “It allows the assaults on other inmates and assaults on the deputies.”
Captain Dempsey says deputies have to walk the halls every 30 minutes to check on inmates. Since the cells have open bars, deputies are easy targets.
A typical module at the Men's Central Jail is a linear configuration, meaning you have to walk down the rows to get any visual on the inmates inside the cells.
“They can't see what's inside the cell until they are right in front of it,” Dempsey said.
“Folsum, San Quentin, they have doors that are hardened so they don't have the opportunity to gas,” Harrington said. “That's one of the issues that we're combating too, just the physical design of the jail.”
The sheriff’s department hopes the Men’s Central Jail will be replaced with a new consolidated correctional treatment facility that will house both high security inmates and provide treatment for people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
In the meantime, deputies came up with different ideas on how to protect themselves, including a shield.
“We roll this (shield) down the row and deputies stand behind it as they push it down the row to protect our deputies,” Dempsey explained.
There are more than 4,000 inmates at the jail. When they attack a deputy with gassing, they are placed in temporary housing.
“This is temporary housing. After an inmate would assault staff or other inmates, they’re placed in here for no more than 29 days for loss of privileges and they are eased back
into a row with open bars,” Dempsey said.
Still, some inmates do it again -- either out of anger or insanity. Deputies say constant training and extensive vigilance is the only way to avoid these disgusting assaults.
“It's just a very inhumane way to have to go through your day and it's a terrible experience for those staff members,” Harrington said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This happens to correctional officers in every jail and prison. It's a shitty job.
Wednesday, February 08, 2017
IMPRESSIVE AND DIFFICULT POTHOLE
by Bob Walsh
A section of spillway on the Oroville dam decided to go south for the winter today as they were lowering the water level in preparation for the ongoing storm fronts. Oroville dam is the tallest in the U. S. at something over 700 feet. The damage to the spillway is about 1/3 of the way down and covers almost the entire width of the spillway.
The DWR (Dept of Water Resources) says the dam is right now 20% below capacity and the spillway is now closed off. They are confident they can get the repair made in a few days and begin releases again. The dam itself is not damaged and is in no danger of failure.
I admit I will be interested in seeing some news footage of this repair. I can't imagine how they can do that sort of thing in a few days. I can't even imagine how they can get it set up in a few days. Which I guess is why I don't work for DWR.
A section of spillway on the Oroville dam decided to go south for the winter today as they were lowering the water level in preparation for the ongoing storm fronts. Oroville dam is the tallest in the U. S. at something over 700 feet. The damage to the spillway is about 1/3 of the way down and covers almost the entire width of the spillway.
The DWR (Dept of Water Resources) says the dam is right now 20% below capacity and the spillway is now closed off. They are confident they can get the repair made in a few days and begin releases again. The dam itself is not damaged and is in no danger of failure.
I admit I will be interested in seeing some news footage of this repair. I can't imagine how they can do that sort of thing in a few days. I can't even imagine how they can get it set up in a few days. Which I guess is why I don't work for DWR.
UNIVERSITY STAFFER UNDER INVESTIGATION IN ANTI-CONSERVATIVE RIOT AT UC BERKELEY
by Bob Walsh
The University of California police department and the FBI are investigating the apparent participation of a UC Berkeley staff member in an "altercation" during the liberal fascist riot at the university last week.
The staffer works in the Development and Alumni Relations Department. The main-stream media has declined to name the staffer When contacted for comment he declined to do so, asserting that he has contacted a lawyer. Apparently the man's name is known on social media and he has been the target of internet trolls, including threats made against his family (allegedly).
The evidence against this moron consists mostly of Facebook posts he made himself documenting his "forceful interaction" with what he calls "MAGA Chuds" This is a common collective term for Make America Great Again supporters. The moron specifically speaks about people who "pulled him off" of the MAGA he was attacking.
The university should fire this dipshit merely for being stupid, regardless of his clearly violent criminal activity on university property.
The University of California police department and the FBI are investigating the apparent participation of a UC Berkeley staff member in an "altercation" during the liberal fascist riot at the university last week.
The staffer works in the Development and Alumni Relations Department. The main-stream media has declined to name the staffer When contacted for comment he declined to do so, asserting that he has contacted a lawyer. Apparently the man's name is known on social media and he has been the target of internet trolls, including threats made against his family (allegedly).
The evidence against this moron consists mostly of Facebook posts he made himself documenting his "forceful interaction" with what he calls "MAGA Chuds" This is a common collective term for Make America Great Again supporters. The moron specifically speaks about people who "pulled him off" of the MAGA he was attacking.
The university should fire this dipshit merely for being stupid, regardless of his clearly violent criminal activity on university property.
THE ATLANTA FALCONS WON THE SUPER BOWL
by Bob Walsh
Late Monday, Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) came out with a news release announcing that the Atlanta Falcons actually won the Super Bowl. This assertion is based on the fact that Atlanta was ahead in three of the four quarters of the game and that therefore, by the Social Justice theory, they should be declared the winner rather than the Patriots, who merely got the most points by the end of the game.
"I don't see the Patriots as a legitimate winner of the Super Bowl," said Lewis. The civil rights icon added, "The Falcons got more points for three quarters of the game."
Thus far neither the NFL or the Patriots have commented on the record. Off the record, they said "Fuck that shit."
Late Monday, Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) came out with a news release announcing that the Atlanta Falcons actually won the Super Bowl. This assertion is based on the fact that Atlanta was ahead in three of the four quarters of the game and that therefore, by the Social Justice theory, they should be declared the winner rather than the Patriots, who merely got the most points by the end of the game.
"I don't see the Patriots as a legitimate winner of the Super Bowl," said Lewis. The civil rights icon added, "The Falcons got more points for three quarters of the game."
Thus far neither the NFL or the Patriots have commented on the record. Off the record, they said "Fuck that shit."
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
by Bob Walsh
Well, it happened. The Democrat-Socialists decided they were willing to die on that hill, and they did.
Betsy Devos is Trump's nominee for the Dept. of Education. The left HATE her, among other things, because she is a fan of school choice. Obviously the teachers unions hate her and fear her because she poses a serious threat to their stranglehold on government indoctrination center-schools. The Democrat-Socialists announced they she was the worst cabinet nominee ever in the history of the universe. They did manage to peel off a couple of Republican-Pseudo-Conservatives that owed the teachers unions, leaving the final vote 50-50, which actually means 51-50 as somewhat after noon D.C. time on Tuesday Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in his capacity as the presiding officer of the Senate.
Trump didn't tap dance. He didn't pull back. He didn't equivocate or snivel. He said (metaphorically) We Are Doing This, and he did. He flipped them off, kicked them in the balls and laughed at them when they were down, rolling on the floor and squealing like six-year old girls.
This guy is scary. He seems like he actually intends to do what he said he would. Might be nice for a change.
Well, it happened. The Democrat-Socialists decided they were willing to die on that hill, and they did.
Betsy Devos is Trump's nominee for the Dept. of Education. The left HATE her, among other things, because she is a fan of school choice. Obviously the teachers unions hate her and fear her because she poses a serious threat to their stranglehold on government indoctrination center-schools. The Democrat-Socialists announced they she was the worst cabinet nominee ever in the history of the universe. They did manage to peel off a couple of Republican-Pseudo-Conservatives that owed the teachers unions, leaving the final vote 50-50, which actually means 51-50 as somewhat after noon D.C. time on Tuesday Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in his capacity as the presiding officer of the Senate.
Trump didn't tap dance. He didn't pull back. He didn't equivocate or snivel. He said (metaphorically) We Are Doing This, and he did. He flipped them off, kicked them in the balls and laughed at them when they were down, rolling on the floor and squealing like six-year old girls.
This guy is scary. He seems like he actually intends to do what he said he would. Might be nice for a change.
WHY TRUMP SCARES LEGAL WEED COMPANIES
Is it legal? Is it illegal? Weed investors aren't sure, so they aren't investing in new weed-related business ventures
By Michaela Cross
VICE News
February 7, 2017
Joey Gilbert is a Nevada-based weed lawyer (yes, that's a real thing) who voted for Donald Trump. Given his line of work, Gilbert says he "took a lot of shit" for supporting Trump, but he doesn't see much reason to worry about marijuana over the next four years. Gilbert even plans on opening a dispensary this month, which he doesn't expect will be hampered by the Trump administration at all.
But others in the weed business are less optimistic.
"I think it's terrifying," said Lauren Davis, a weed lawyer in Colorado. "Not just for marijuana but for fundamental civil liberties for every American."
Trump, for his part, has been fairly laissez-faire about weed. In the past, he's voiced support for medical marijuana and said during his campaign that the decision of whether or not to legalize weed should be left up to individual states. But Davis and others point to Trump's pick for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who talks about marijuana like someone's really uncool dad. ("This drug is dangerous, you cannot play with it," he once said. "Good people don't smoke marijuana.") If someone like Sessions is at the helm of justice under Trump, then it's possible that marijuana's already tenuous legality could be dealt a serious blow over the next four years.
For starters, Davis points out, marijuana isn't exactly "legal." Technically, the states that have passed provisions to allow medical or recreational marijuana within their borders are still at the whim of federal jurisdiction, which still classifies weed as a Schedule I drug.
"To say that marijuana is legal in Colorado, just as a blanket statement, is drastically overstating the reality," Davis told me. "It is legal under very limited circumstances."
So legalized businesses like dispensaries or farms already have to be extremely wary, given government equivocation and complex state laws. Those in the industry I spoke to made cautious statements about how the next four years might pan out, especially given Sessions's stance on the drug. George Rask of Odin Distillation, a marijuana-processing company, characterized the community's attitude as "watchful, but not worried."
Sessions has said, in the past, that marijuana reform was a "tragic mistake," adding that it is "not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized." And while neither he nor Trump have made any explicit claims to upend the federal government's stance on weed, doing so would be relatively simple: All it takes is a quick signature for Sessions to decide to prioritize the criminal enforcement of marijuana—which could include arresting growers, retailers, and users alike. The lawyers I spoke to were clear that there's no reason to worry about that just yet, or possibly at all. But some told me that weed investors are already getting cold feet about putting money into dispensaries or other weed-related business ventures.
"I have a number of clients who in the last few weeks have decided that they are not going to go forward with investment purchases or a business plan," Davis told me. "People are scared."
Private investment is especially important when it comes to the marijuana industry because the federal status of weed prevents banks from giving out loans. Risk-averse Wall Street types aren't very likely to move funds—potentially a lot of funds—that could get them thrown in prison.
If investors stop funneling money into dispensaries and other business opportunities, it could bring the legal weed industry to a standstill. That could, in turn, cause a boom for the marijuana black market.
"Trump seems to have an infatuation with the law enforcement," said Billy Holder (not his real name) a black-market trimmer who works in California's Emerald Triangle. "If he's supporting the DEA and there's a better push from the federal government to regulate it and fight the state with their laws, it'll probably, honestly, continue to be lucrative if it stays illegal."
During the season, Holder works on a farm in California, which he told me he thinks is legal, but gets paid under the table anyway.
"That gray area in the law," said Holder. "It's hard to know what's legal and what's not because there's a difference in the federal and state laws we don't really know the final say."
In general, the consensus among weed businesses is that both Trump and Sessions will have bigger fish to fry, and aren't likely to target an industry that is pouring money into the government's pockets. Still, Rask pointed out to me, who the hell really knows?
"If the last year and a half have taught us anything," said Rask, "they've taught us that we ought to be careful with our predictions."
EDITOR’S NOTE: Attorney General Sessions should turn the DEA loose and order it to enforce all federal drug laws in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, California and all other states that have legalized marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes.
If the courts don’t interfere, that will put an end to the pot legalization craze in this country.
As for the black market thriving if the Trump administration turns the DEA loose, it is already thriving in those states where marijuana is legal. Pot heads prefer to get their weed from illegal dealers who do not charge any taxes rather than buy marijuana from a ‘legal’ shop which adds high state and local taxes onto their purchases.
By Michaela Cross
VICE News
February 7, 2017
Joey Gilbert is a Nevada-based weed lawyer (yes, that's a real thing) who voted for Donald Trump. Given his line of work, Gilbert says he "took a lot of shit" for supporting Trump, but he doesn't see much reason to worry about marijuana over the next four years. Gilbert even plans on opening a dispensary this month, which he doesn't expect will be hampered by the Trump administration at all.
But others in the weed business are less optimistic.
"I think it's terrifying," said Lauren Davis, a weed lawyer in Colorado. "Not just for marijuana but for fundamental civil liberties for every American."
Trump, for his part, has been fairly laissez-faire about weed. In the past, he's voiced support for medical marijuana and said during his campaign that the decision of whether or not to legalize weed should be left up to individual states. But Davis and others point to Trump's pick for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who talks about marijuana like someone's really uncool dad. ("This drug is dangerous, you cannot play with it," he once said. "Good people don't smoke marijuana.") If someone like Sessions is at the helm of justice under Trump, then it's possible that marijuana's already tenuous legality could be dealt a serious blow over the next four years.
For starters, Davis points out, marijuana isn't exactly "legal." Technically, the states that have passed provisions to allow medical or recreational marijuana within their borders are still at the whim of federal jurisdiction, which still classifies weed as a Schedule I drug.
"To say that marijuana is legal in Colorado, just as a blanket statement, is drastically overstating the reality," Davis told me. "It is legal under very limited circumstances."
So legalized businesses like dispensaries or farms already have to be extremely wary, given government equivocation and complex state laws. Those in the industry I spoke to made cautious statements about how the next four years might pan out, especially given Sessions's stance on the drug. George Rask of Odin Distillation, a marijuana-processing company, characterized the community's attitude as "watchful, but not worried."
Sessions has said, in the past, that marijuana reform was a "tragic mistake," adding that it is "not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized." And while neither he nor Trump have made any explicit claims to upend the federal government's stance on weed, doing so would be relatively simple: All it takes is a quick signature for Sessions to decide to prioritize the criminal enforcement of marijuana—which could include arresting growers, retailers, and users alike. The lawyers I spoke to were clear that there's no reason to worry about that just yet, or possibly at all. But some told me that weed investors are already getting cold feet about putting money into dispensaries or other weed-related business ventures.
"I have a number of clients who in the last few weeks have decided that they are not going to go forward with investment purchases or a business plan," Davis told me. "People are scared."
Private investment is especially important when it comes to the marijuana industry because the federal status of weed prevents banks from giving out loans. Risk-averse Wall Street types aren't very likely to move funds—potentially a lot of funds—that could get them thrown in prison.
If investors stop funneling money into dispensaries and other business opportunities, it could bring the legal weed industry to a standstill. That could, in turn, cause a boom for the marijuana black market.
"Trump seems to have an infatuation with the law enforcement," said Billy Holder (not his real name) a black-market trimmer who works in California's Emerald Triangle. "If he's supporting the DEA and there's a better push from the federal government to regulate it and fight the state with their laws, it'll probably, honestly, continue to be lucrative if it stays illegal."
During the season, Holder works on a farm in California, which he told me he thinks is legal, but gets paid under the table anyway.
"That gray area in the law," said Holder. "It's hard to know what's legal and what's not because there's a difference in the federal and state laws we don't really know the final say."
In general, the consensus among weed businesses is that both Trump and Sessions will have bigger fish to fry, and aren't likely to target an industry that is pouring money into the government's pockets. Still, Rask pointed out to me, who the hell really knows?
"If the last year and a half have taught us anything," said Rask, "they've taught us that we ought to be careful with our predictions."
EDITOR’S NOTE: Attorney General Sessions should turn the DEA loose and order it to enforce all federal drug laws in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, California and all other states that have legalized marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes.
If the courts don’t interfere, that will put an end to the pot legalization craze in this country.
As for the black market thriving if the Trump administration turns the DEA loose, it is already thriving in those states where marijuana is legal. Pot heads prefer to get their weed from illegal dealers who do not charge any taxes rather than buy marijuana from a ‘legal’ shop which adds high state and local taxes onto their purchases.
SAN FRANCISCO DEPUTY CHARGED WITH GIVING GUN TO FELON
April Myres was arrested Thursday and faces federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy for falsifying a burglary report in which she claimed her department - issued Glock was one of the items stolen when in fact she gave it to Antoine Fowler with whom she had a sexual relationship while he was jailed
By Matt Hamilton
Los Angeles Times
February 7, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco sheriff’s deputy has been accused of staging the theft of her department-issued gun, submitting bogus insurance claims and handing the weapon over to a former inmate with whom she had had an intimate jailhouse relationship.
The fraud and corruption allegations against April Myres, a 20-year member of the Sheriff’s Department, came after months of investigation by local and federal authorities.
Myres, 52, was arrested Thursday and faces federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. She was detained shortly after agents conducted a traffic stop of Antoine Fowler, the former inmate, and recovered Myres’ gun in the console of his car, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco.
Tony Tamburello, Myres’ attorney, did not respond to a request for comment. But in an interview with the Bay Area news station KGO-TV, he denied that his client had had an intimate relationship with Fowler. The attorney said Fowler had stolen the gun.
“She did not give … (it) to him,” Tamburello said.
In March 2016, Myres reported that the Glock 17 9-millimeter pistol had been stolen during a burglary of her home. She said the burglar also took her department-issued body armor, handcuffs and radio, as well as designer apparel that included Versace, Louis Vuitton and Chanel handbags, according to court papers.
When detectives tried to investigate the theft, they ran into difficulties, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
Myres told a San Francisco police officer that she had a security camera at her home, but that she already had deleted footage from the day of the break-in. Detectives wanted to dust parts of her home for fingerprints, but she balked.
She also gave law enforcement the name of a man she thought was involved, but did not mention that the suspect was her ex-husband, according to the affidavit.
Police tracked down security camera footage from one of Myres’ neighbors, which showed a group of men at the home on the evening in question. The footage showed Myres driving away about 6 p.m., which matched what she told investigators. But the men remained until about 8 p.m.
Myres told an insurance company that no one else had been at her house on the night of the burglary.
Meanwhile, at some point a former cellmate told investigators that Fowler and Myres had had an illicit relationship when he was in jail. Fowler and his cellmate were allowed to go to the gym separately from other inmates, the man said, enabling Fowler and Myres to meet privately. The cellmate told officials that he overheard the pair discussing plans for a Hawaii vacation and claimed that Myres agreed to get Fowler a gun once he was released.
In May, Myres sent insurance forms detailing about $66,000 worth of items she said were taken. In a handwritten note, she justified including her professional equipment in the claim, saying San Francisco’s city charter allowed her to assume ownership “after 4 years of service.” She provided the name of a supervisor for verification. Investigators later found that the name she provided was not her supervisor and that the city did not have such a policy, federal officials said in the affidavit.
After weeks of surveillance, FBI agents stopped Fowler’s car on Thursday and found Myres’ Glock in the console. He told investigators that Myres had given it to him. The same day, agents searched Myres’ home and found several of the items that she had said were stolen, according to the affidavit.
Fowler was charged with being a felon in possession of a gun. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. His attorney could not be reached for comment. If convicted, Fowler faces up to 10 years in prison.
Myres was released after posting $1 million bond. She faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, and an additional 10 years in prison for the weapons charge.
By Matt Hamilton
Los Angeles Times
February 7, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco sheriff’s deputy has been accused of staging the theft of her department-issued gun, submitting bogus insurance claims and handing the weapon over to a former inmate with whom she had had an intimate jailhouse relationship.
The fraud and corruption allegations against April Myres, a 20-year member of the Sheriff’s Department, came after months of investigation by local and federal authorities.
Myres, 52, was arrested Thursday and faces federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. She was detained shortly after agents conducted a traffic stop of Antoine Fowler, the former inmate, and recovered Myres’ gun in the console of his car, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco.
Tony Tamburello, Myres’ attorney, did not respond to a request for comment. But in an interview with the Bay Area news station KGO-TV, he denied that his client had had an intimate relationship with Fowler. The attorney said Fowler had stolen the gun.
“She did not give … (it) to him,” Tamburello said.
In March 2016, Myres reported that the Glock 17 9-millimeter pistol had been stolen during a burglary of her home. She said the burglar also took her department-issued body armor, handcuffs and radio, as well as designer apparel that included Versace, Louis Vuitton and Chanel handbags, according to court papers.
When detectives tried to investigate the theft, they ran into difficulties, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
Myres told a San Francisco police officer that she had a security camera at her home, but that she already had deleted footage from the day of the break-in. Detectives wanted to dust parts of her home for fingerprints, but she balked.
She also gave law enforcement the name of a man she thought was involved, but did not mention that the suspect was her ex-husband, according to the affidavit.
Police tracked down security camera footage from one of Myres’ neighbors, which showed a group of men at the home on the evening in question. The footage showed Myres driving away about 6 p.m., which matched what she told investigators. But the men remained until about 8 p.m.
Myres told an insurance company that no one else had been at her house on the night of the burglary.
Meanwhile, at some point a former cellmate told investigators that Fowler and Myres had had an illicit relationship when he was in jail. Fowler and his cellmate were allowed to go to the gym separately from other inmates, the man said, enabling Fowler and Myres to meet privately. The cellmate told officials that he overheard the pair discussing plans for a Hawaii vacation and claimed that Myres agreed to get Fowler a gun once he was released.
In May, Myres sent insurance forms detailing about $66,000 worth of items she said were taken. In a handwritten note, she justified including her professional equipment in the claim, saying San Francisco’s city charter allowed her to assume ownership “after 4 years of service.” She provided the name of a supervisor for verification. Investigators later found that the name she provided was not her supervisor and that the city did not have such a policy, federal officials said in the affidavit.
After weeks of surveillance, FBI agents stopped Fowler’s car on Thursday and found Myres’ Glock in the console. He told investigators that Myres had given it to him. The same day, agents searched Myres’ home and found several of the items that she had said were stolen, according to the affidavit.
Fowler was charged with being a felon in possession of a gun. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. His attorney could not be reached for comment. If convicted, Fowler faces up to 10 years in prison.
Myres was released after posting $1 million bond. She faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, and an additional 10 years in prison for the weapons charge.
IRISH VIRGINITY TEST KIT
Paddy is planning to marry, he is, and asks his family doctor how he could tell if his bride-to-be is still a virgin.
His doctor says, "Aye, Paddy, all Irish use three things for what we call a Do-It-Yourself Virginity Test Kit …. A small can of red paint, a small can of blue paint and a frying pan."
Paddy asks, "Aye, and what do I do with these things, doctor?"
The doctor replies, "Before ye climb into bed on your wedding night, you paint one of your balls red and the other ball blue.
If she says, "That's the strangest pair of balls I ever did see...
Then you hit her with the frying pan."
His doctor says, "Aye, Paddy, all Irish use three things for what we call a Do-It-Yourself Virginity Test Kit …. A small can of red paint, a small can of blue paint and a frying pan."
Paddy asks, "Aye, and what do I do with these things, doctor?"
The doctor replies, "Before ye climb into bed on your wedding night, you paint one of your balls red and the other ball blue.
If she says, "That's the strangest pair of balls I ever did see...
Then you hit her with the frying pan."
Tuesday, February 07, 2017
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER VISITS ISRAEL
Chuck Norris Suddenly Appears in Israel
Israel Today
February 6, 2017
Legendary actor and martial artist Chuck Norris was spotted in Israel this past weekend on an unannounced visit for unknown reasons.
Norris first showed up at a restaurant in Herzliya, where he was seen dining with Dore Gold, the former director-general of the Israel Foreign Ministry and a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Norris publicly endorsed Netanyahu in both the 2013 and 2015 national elections in Israel. He even did television spots encouraging Israelis to vote for Netanyahu.
It was unclear if Norris would meet with Netanyahu on this visit. But he did come up on Sunday to Jerusalem, where he was seen praying at the Western Wall and touring the tunnels beneath.
EDITOR’S NOTE: It would be great if Chuck would kick the asses of Palestinians throwing stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall.
Israel Today
February 6, 2017
Legendary actor and martial artist Chuck Norris was spotted in Israel this past weekend on an unannounced visit for unknown reasons.
Norris first showed up at a restaurant in Herzliya, where he was seen dining with Dore Gold, the former director-general of the Israel Foreign Ministry and a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Norris publicly endorsed Netanyahu in both the 2013 and 2015 national elections in Israel. He even did television spots encouraging Israelis to vote for Netanyahu.
It was unclear if Norris would meet with Netanyahu on this visit. But he did come up on Sunday to Jerusalem, where he was seen praying at the Western Wall and touring the tunnels beneath.
EDITOR’S NOTE: It would be great if Chuck would kick the asses of Palestinians throwing stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall.
SUPER THEFT
by Bob Walsh
Sad, but true. Tom Brady's game jersey disappeared from his gym bag after THE game on Sunday. The Texas Rangers are investigating and are taking it very, very seriously indeed. The value of the jersey would be considerable on the sports memorabilia market. (I heard it was some old Jewish guy that did it, by impersonating a kosher hotdog vendor, but I could be wrong about that.)
EDITOR'S NOTE: Atta boy, blame it on those damn Jews.
Actually there are conflicting reports. One has the Rangers looking for the Jersey. The other says it was not stolen, but hidden away by a member of the Patriots equipment staff so it would not be stolen.
Sad, but true. Tom Brady's game jersey disappeared from his gym bag after THE game on Sunday. The Texas Rangers are investigating and are taking it very, very seriously indeed. The value of the jersey would be considerable on the sports memorabilia market. (I heard it was some old Jewish guy that did it, by impersonating a kosher hotdog vendor, but I could be wrong about that.)
EDITOR'S NOTE: Atta boy, blame it on those damn Jews.
Actually there are conflicting reports. One has the Rangers looking for the Jersey. The other says it was not stolen, but hidden away by a member of the Patriots equipment staff so it would not be stolen.
ANOTHER POSSIBLY INTERESTING ELECTION
by Bob Walsh
There will be a presidential election in France this year. It is getting interesting. Marine Le Pen, the head of the right-wing National Front Party, has been getting a lot of press time blasting both Islamic Fundamentalism and globalization, asserting that they are totalitarian structures and are threatening France.
"We are at a crossroads. This election is a choice of civilizations." Ms. LePen is getting a great deal of traction with hard-core nationalism, and is ahead in many polls. Her campaign slogan is "In The Name Of The People."
The current president, socialist weenie Francois Hollande, is not running for another term, because he is afraid of having his ass handed to him. There are a LOT of people in France who are scared shitless over Islamic intrusions into the French political infrastructure to the point where they are afraid their culture will be an erased minority in the foreseeable future. Until recently France was officially a Catholic country and their culture is still overwhelmingly Christian, though the "native" population is underbreeding and the immigrant population is breeding like rats.
The election will be April 23 with a run-off, if necessary, on May 7.
There will be a presidential election in France this year. It is getting interesting. Marine Le Pen, the head of the right-wing National Front Party, has been getting a lot of press time blasting both Islamic Fundamentalism and globalization, asserting that they are totalitarian structures and are threatening France.
"We are at a crossroads. This election is a choice of civilizations." Ms. LePen is getting a great deal of traction with hard-core nationalism, and is ahead in many polls. Her campaign slogan is "In The Name Of The People."
The current president, socialist weenie Francois Hollande, is not running for another term, because he is afraid of having his ass handed to him. There are a LOT of people in France who are scared shitless over Islamic intrusions into the French political infrastructure to the point where they are afraid their culture will be an erased minority in the foreseeable future. Until recently France was officially a Catholic country and their culture is still overwhelmingly Christian, though the "native" population is underbreeding and the immigrant population is breeding like rats.
The election will be April 23 with a run-off, if necessary, on May 7.
GEORGIA DEPUTY DIES AFTER INHALING LIQUID NITROGEN WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE A SPERM BANK WORKER
The Richmond County Sheriff's deputy and father of four was responding to an alarm at the Xytex sperm bank when he went inside to rescue a female employee
By James Folker
The Augusta Chronicle
February 5, 2017
A Richmond County sheriff’s deputy died Sunday after inhaling liquid nitrogen while trying to save a worker inside a sperm bank.
Three other deputies were injured but “are going to be OK,” Lt. Allan Rollins said late Sunday.
Sgt. Greg Meagher, 57, went to Xytex at 1100 Emmett St. about 3:30 p.m., according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
“Upon arrival, Sgt. Meagher succumbed to injuries sustained after inhaling an unknown chemical substance,” the release said.
The chemical was liquid nitrogen, according to Dee Griffin, the spokeswoman for the Augusta Fire Department and Augusta’s Emergency Management Agency. The chemical is used to freeze sperm donations.
Three other deputies who had responded to the call already had been taken to a hospital after complaining of shortness of breath when firefighters arrived just before 4 p.m.
The firefighters found the unresponsive deputy and a female Xytex employee inside the building. Meagher had gone into the building to try to rescue the woman, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.
Both were taken to AU Medical Center, where Meagher was pronounced dead about 4:30 p.m., according to Bowen. Meagher’s body was sent to Atlanta for an autopsy.
Two fire department hazardous materials teams were called out and shut off liquid nitrogen tanks, according to a news release from Griffin. No firefighters were injured.
There was no information on the condition of the Xytex employee.
Meagher was a 33-year veteran with the sheriff’s office and a former drug investigator. He was shot in the face in 2004 when he was assisting federal agents in a drug sting in Burke County. The bullet entered his jaw and exited the back of his neck. He was airlifted to the then-Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Meagher helped a colleague chase down motor vehicle thieves in 1985 and helped rush a pregnant woman from a south Augusta restaurant to University Hospital as she went into labor, according to records from Meagher’s personnel file, obtained by The Augusta Chronicle after his 2004 shooting.
Meagher also was commended for assisting the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice during a 1996 undercover drug investigation of a deputy U.S. marshal, a letter states.
In 2000, officials at the Savannah River Technology Center commended Meagher and other colleagues for helping a Justice Department employee observe the use of a surveillance camera to make arrests in a drug trafficking area.
Records show Meagher went to the Criminal Investigation Division in 1989. He started with the sheriff’s office in 1984.
By James Folker
The Augusta Chronicle
February 5, 2017
A Richmond County sheriff’s deputy died Sunday after inhaling liquid nitrogen while trying to save a worker inside a sperm bank.
Three other deputies were injured but “are going to be OK,” Lt. Allan Rollins said late Sunday.
Sgt. Greg Meagher, 57, went to Xytex at 1100 Emmett St. about 3:30 p.m., according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
“Upon arrival, Sgt. Meagher succumbed to injuries sustained after inhaling an unknown chemical substance,” the release said.
The chemical was liquid nitrogen, according to Dee Griffin, the spokeswoman for the Augusta Fire Department and Augusta’s Emergency Management Agency. The chemical is used to freeze sperm donations.
Three other deputies who had responded to the call already had been taken to a hospital after complaining of shortness of breath when firefighters arrived just before 4 p.m.
The firefighters found the unresponsive deputy and a female Xytex employee inside the building. Meagher had gone into the building to try to rescue the woman, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.
Both were taken to AU Medical Center, where Meagher was pronounced dead about 4:30 p.m., according to Bowen. Meagher’s body was sent to Atlanta for an autopsy.
Two fire department hazardous materials teams were called out and shut off liquid nitrogen tanks, according to a news release from Griffin. No firefighters were injured.
There was no information on the condition of the Xytex employee.
Meagher was a 33-year veteran with the sheriff’s office and a former drug investigator. He was shot in the face in 2004 when he was assisting federal agents in a drug sting in Burke County. The bullet entered his jaw and exited the back of his neck. He was airlifted to the then-Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Meagher helped a colleague chase down motor vehicle thieves in 1985 and helped rush a pregnant woman from a south Augusta restaurant to University Hospital as she went into labor, according to records from Meagher’s personnel file, obtained by The Augusta Chronicle after his 2004 shooting.
Meagher also was commended for assisting the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice during a 1996 undercover drug investigation of a deputy U.S. marshal, a letter states.
In 2000, officials at the Savannah River Technology Center commended Meagher and other colleagues for helping a Justice Department employee observe the use of a surveillance camera to make arrests in a drug trafficking area.
Records show Meagher went to the Criminal Investigation Division in 1989. He started with the sheriff’s office in 1984.
POTTED FLORIDA PROSECUTOR SQUAD
Cocaine of State Attorney's prosecutor was hidden in rubber ducky and pot was used at bachelorette party
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
February 2, 2017
They were the “Squad,” a group of 20-something friends and co-workers at the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando who went to a bachelorette party in New Orleans, where someone brought a rubber ducky filled with cocaine.
Shannon Solo, a 27-year-old victim advocate, was the bride-to-be.
She did a lot of cocaine that weekend, she would later tell a new boyfriend, according to investigative documents.
He was an Orange County deputy and drug agent, who passed word up the chain of command. As a result Solo and four other members of the Squad were fired.
Also fired was a sixth person, attorney Danielle Wall, who was later accused of smoking marijuana at a house in Kissimmee.
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced those dismissals Jan. 20, saying an internal investigation determined that all six women either used drugs or saw co-workers use them and condoned it.
“Based on the power and authority employees of this office possess, I hold each of us to a higher standard,” she said. “They were people who should not be working for the State Attorney’s Office.”
This week, her office released paperwork from an internal investigation.
It shows that two members of the Squad – Solo and attorney Alicia Virginio – admitted they abused drugs at the bachelorette party. Solo snorted cocaine and used Adderall, a stimulant typically prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder, she admitted.
Virginio contributed money to buy marijuana and told investigators, “I probably did take a puff.”
In a separate series of events at a house in Kissimmee, they and a third person who was not part of the Squad – Wall – admitted smoking marijuana in December.
Another victim advocate and member of the Squad, Casey Perkins, did not go to New Orleans but said she saw Solo and Virginio smoke marijuana at the house in Kissimmee in a bong made out of a Gatorade bottle.
Two other members of the Squad – victim advocates Rachel Shaw and Barbara “Kathleen” Browne – admitted seeing drug use at the bachelorette party.
Solo, Virginio, Wall and Browne did not respond to phone calls or messages sent via social media. Perkins would not comment, and Shaw could not be reached.
The women who did not use drugs – Shaw, Browne and Perkins – were fired for insubordination and for not being fully forthcoming.
They appealed, according to office spokeswoman Eryka Washington, but Ayala did not change her mind.
The 194-page investigative file makes clear that the party in New Orleans was a wild one.
The four women from Orlando, plus other friends, rented a house.
“There was a lot of drinking and dancing going on,” Virginio told investigators.
There also was cocaine, hidden in a rubber ducky, and marijuana, the now-fired employees said.
Shaw told investigators that she saw people, including Solo, snort cocaine through rolled-up dollar bills.
Someone made a bong out of a water bottle, Browne told investigators, and the house smelled like marijuana.
The report doesn’t spell out the date of the party, but Solo’s work calendar, and those of the other women from the Orlando office who attended, show they all took vacation days Sept. 9-12.
Ayala said the women would not be prosecuted because of a lack of evidence.
Lt. Ryan Berry, a spokesman for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, said his agency had not investigated possible marijuana use there. Unless officers found the women in possession of marijuana, he said, the case would not hold up in court.
Kissimmee Police Department spokeswoman Stacie Miller said her agency was not investigating.
Ron Stucker is director of the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the drug and vice agency where Solo’s new boyfriend works. He said his agency did not investigate, in part, because it doesn’t handle misdemeanors. Possession of a small amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor in Florida.
Recreational marijuana use is legal in California, Colorado and six other states. It is illegal in Louisiana.
After the women got home from the bachelorette party, Solo’s fiance dumped her, in part, because of drug use, her new and now-ex-boyfriend told investigators.
By Rene Stutzman
Orlando Sentinel
February 2, 2017
They were the “Squad,” a group of 20-something friends and co-workers at the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando who went to a bachelorette party in New Orleans, where someone brought a rubber ducky filled with cocaine.
Shannon Solo, a 27-year-old victim advocate, was the bride-to-be.
She did a lot of cocaine that weekend, she would later tell a new boyfriend, according to investigative documents.
He was an Orange County deputy and drug agent, who passed word up the chain of command. As a result Solo and four other members of the Squad were fired.
Also fired was a sixth person, attorney Danielle Wall, who was later accused of smoking marijuana at a house in Kissimmee.
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced those dismissals Jan. 20, saying an internal investigation determined that all six women either used drugs or saw co-workers use them and condoned it.
“Based on the power and authority employees of this office possess, I hold each of us to a higher standard,” she said. “They were people who should not be working for the State Attorney’s Office.”
This week, her office released paperwork from an internal investigation.
It shows that two members of the Squad – Solo and attorney Alicia Virginio – admitted they abused drugs at the bachelorette party. Solo snorted cocaine and used Adderall, a stimulant typically prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder, she admitted.
Virginio contributed money to buy marijuana and told investigators, “I probably did take a puff.”
In a separate series of events at a house in Kissimmee, they and a third person who was not part of the Squad – Wall – admitted smoking marijuana in December.
Another victim advocate and member of the Squad, Casey Perkins, did not go to New Orleans but said she saw Solo and Virginio smoke marijuana at the house in Kissimmee in a bong made out of a Gatorade bottle.
Two other members of the Squad – victim advocates Rachel Shaw and Barbara “Kathleen” Browne – admitted seeing drug use at the bachelorette party.
Solo, Virginio, Wall and Browne did not respond to phone calls or messages sent via social media. Perkins would not comment, and Shaw could not be reached.
The women who did not use drugs – Shaw, Browne and Perkins – were fired for insubordination and for not being fully forthcoming.
They appealed, according to office spokeswoman Eryka Washington, but Ayala did not change her mind.
The 194-page investigative file makes clear that the party in New Orleans was a wild one.
The four women from Orlando, plus other friends, rented a house.
“There was a lot of drinking and dancing going on,” Virginio told investigators.
There also was cocaine, hidden in a rubber ducky, and marijuana, the now-fired employees said.
Shaw told investigators that she saw people, including Solo, snort cocaine through rolled-up dollar bills.
Someone made a bong out of a water bottle, Browne told investigators, and the house smelled like marijuana.
The report doesn’t spell out the date of the party, but Solo’s work calendar, and those of the other women from the Orlando office who attended, show they all took vacation days Sept. 9-12.
Ayala said the women would not be prosecuted because of a lack of evidence.
Lt. Ryan Berry, a spokesman for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, said his agency had not investigated possible marijuana use there. Unless officers found the women in possession of marijuana, he said, the case would not hold up in court.
Kissimmee Police Department spokeswoman Stacie Miller said her agency was not investigating.
Ron Stucker is director of the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the drug and vice agency where Solo’s new boyfriend works. He said his agency did not investigate, in part, because it doesn’t handle misdemeanors. Possession of a small amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor in Florida.
Recreational marijuana use is legal in California, Colorado and six other states. It is illegal in Louisiana.
After the women got home from the bachelorette party, Solo’s fiance dumped her, in part, because of drug use, her new and now-ex-boyfriend told investigators.
RIGHT-WING NUT ALEX JONES
Alt-right claim Lady Gaga's Super Bowl performance was a satanic ritual
By Jack Shepherd
Independent
February 6, 2017
By almost all accounts, Lady Gaga’s halftime Super Bowl performance was astounding, the singer’s stage antics wowing all those watching.
However, before the match started, infamous alt-right spokesperson and InfoWars founder Alex Jones took to Facebook to warn followers not to watch Gaga’s show because she’s the spawn of Satan and part of the ‘New World Order’.
After claiming Gaga “does rituals” and pointing out she once wore a meat suit, Jones said the Super Bowl “organisers are deciding to defile America and break our will by having us bow down to this.”
“They say she’s going to stand on top of the stadium, ruling over everyone with drones everywhere, surveilling everyone in a big swarm,” he said. “To just condition them to say ‘I am the Godess of Satan’ ruling over them with the rise of the robots in a ritual of lesser magic.”
He continues to rant about the ‘New World Order’, how Trump has ruined Gaga’s Satanic plan to dominate the world, and slapping himself on the back for being a ‘free thinker’.
Comments underneath the Facebook post echoed Jones's sentiment, while some also brought up the illuminati.
To be fair, there were a lot of triangles during Gaga’s performance. Illuminati confirmed? Probably. Meanwhile, in an even more suspicious occurrence, The Simpsons seemingly predicted Gaga’s Super Bowl performance. Will the ‘New World Order’ ever stop messing with us?
The alt-right movement, a loose group of people with far right ideologies who reject mainstream Conservatism, has been associated with white supremacism, Islamophobia, antifeminism and anti-Semitism. It was little known until last year, when it endorsed Trump’s election campaign and he appeared to endorse the movement back. Alex Jones has been labelled 'alt-right' on numerous occasions.
By Jack Shepherd
Independent
February 6, 2017
By almost all accounts, Lady Gaga’s halftime Super Bowl performance was astounding, the singer’s stage antics wowing all those watching.
However, before the match started, infamous alt-right spokesperson and InfoWars founder Alex Jones took to Facebook to warn followers not to watch Gaga’s show because she’s the spawn of Satan and part of the ‘New World Order’.
After claiming Gaga “does rituals” and pointing out she once wore a meat suit, Jones said the Super Bowl “organisers are deciding to defile America and break our will by having us bow down to this.”
“They say she’s going to stand on top of the stadium, ruling over everyone with drones everywhere, surveilling everyone in a big swarm,” he said. “To just condition them to say ‘I am the Godess of Satan’ ruling over them with the rise of the robots in a ritual of lesser magic.”
He continues to rant about the ‘New World Order’, how Trump has ruined Gaga’s Satanic plan to dominate the world, and slapping himself on the back for being a ‘free thinker’.
Comments underneath the Facebook post echoed Jones's sentiment, while some also brought up the illuminati.
To be fair, there were a lot of triangles during Gaga’s performance. Illuminati confirmed? Probably. Meanwhile, in an even more suspicious occurrence, The Simpsons seemingly predicted Gaga’s Super Bowl performance. Will the ‘New World Order’ ever stop messing with us?
The alt-right movement, a loose group of people with far right ideologies who reject mainstream Conservatism, has been associated with white supremacism, Islamophobia, antifeminism and anti-Semitism. It was little known until last year, when it endorsed Trump’s election campaign and he appeared to endorse the movement back. Alex Jones has been labelled 'alt-right' on numerous occasions.
Monday, February 06, 2017
STUPOR BOWL
I enjoyed watching Chuck Norris kick ass in “Walker, Texas Ranger” reruns on the Grit channel
I don’t watch the Stupor Bowl because I think it’s a monumental rip-off by the National Football League. It’s just another NFL game that’s been hyped up beyond reason and for which the tickets go at super-high prices. Then there are those 30 second TV commercials, usually the best part of the game, which go for $5 million. All that hype has 100 million suckers glued to their TVs in a stupor.
Instead of watching the Stupor Bowl, I watched reruns of “Walker, Texas Ranger” on the Grit channel. I did however, click over to the game during the two minutes of commercials, which pop up about every 10 minutes. During those commercial breaks, I did get to see three Falcon touchdowns, including the pick-6 one.
When the score got to be 28-3, I stopped clicking over to the game, believing that the game was out of reach for the Patriots, with Brady and Belichick’s dream of winning a fifth Stupor Bowls gone down the shitter. When I switched over again, the score was 28-20. Next, I saw the tying touchdown and two point conversion. When I clicked again, the Patriots were deep in their end. The last time I switched channels, I could tell by the on-field celebrations that the Patriots won.
During my switchovers, I also watched about two minutes of Lady Gaga’s halftime gig.
I must say that this year’s game was one of the best ever. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching Chuck Norris kick ass in those Walker, Texas Ranger reruns.
By the way, I hope Tom Brady told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, “Fuck you, you asshole” when they shook hands after the game.
I don’t watch the Stupor Bowl because I think it’s a monumental rip-off by the National Football League. It’s just another NFL game that’s been hyped up beyond reason and for which the tickets go at super-high prices. Then there are those 30 second TV commercials, usually the best part of the game, which go for $5 million. All that hype has 100 million suckers glued to their TVs in a stupor.
Instead of watching the Stupor Bowl, I watched reruns of “Walker, Texas Ranger” on the Grit channel. I did however, click over to the game during the two minutes of commercials, which pop up about every 10 minutes. During those commercial breaks, I did get to see three Falcon touchdowns, including the pick-6 one.
When the score got to be 28-3, I stopped clicking over to the game, believing that the game was out of reach for the Patriots, with Brady and Belichick’s dream of winning a fifth Stupor Bowls gone down the shitter. When I switched over again, the score was 28-20. Next, I saw the tying touchdown and two point conversion. When I clicked again, the Patriots were deep in their end. The last time I switched channels, I could tell by the on-field celebrations that the Patriots won.
During my switchovers, I also watched about two minutes of Lady Gaga’s halftime gig.
I must say that this year’s game was one of the best ever. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching Chuck Norris kick ass in those Walker, Texas Ranger reruns.
By the way, I hope Tom Brady told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, “Fuck you, you asshole” when they shook hands after the game.
LOCAL MAN DOES GOOD DEED
by Bob Walsh
Jack Shields is a denizen of Stockton. He is also a pretty well known MMA fighter. A few days ago he was present, with his girlfriend, at UC Berkeley when the riot broke out in protest of a conservative speaker. Shieids saw a pack of cowardly, masked assholes attack and start pummeling a man who seemed to be a Trump supporter. He also saw the cops standing around with their thumbs up their butts so he jumped in to rescue the man from the mob. His girlfriend recorded the aftermath of the mess and it has been posted to the internet where it is very popular viewing.
After his rescue move the situation got really, really stupid and the cops were refusing to intervene to help people so Shields and his gf beat feet.
Under some circumstances I would say that Shields might face some legal problems. This is California after all. However, rescuing a man being pummeled by a masked mob while the cops do jack shit is probably a worthwhile thing and even the liberal asswipes that run California might have a hard time making much of this.
Jack Shields is a denizen of Stockton. He is also a pretty well known MMA fighter. A few days ago he was present, with his girlfriend, at UC Berkeley when the riot broke out in protest of a conservative speaker. Shieids saw a pack of cowardly, masked assholes attack and start pummeling a man who seemed to be a Trump supporter. He also saw the cops standing around with their thumbs up their butts so he jumped in to rescue the man from the mob. His girlfriend recorded the aftermath of the mess and it has been posted to the internet where it is very popular viewing.
After his rescue move the situation got really, really stupid and the cops were refusing to intervene to help people so Shields and his gf beat feet.
Under some circumstances I would say that Shields might face some legal problems. This is California after all. However, rescuing a man being pummeled by a masked mob while the cops do jack shit is probably a worthwhile thing and even the liberal asswipes that run California might have a hard time making much of this.
DEAD CUSTOMERS USUALLY BAD FOR BUSINESS...BUT NOT ALWAYS
by Bob Walsh
Death is, in and of itself, not necessarily bad for businesses. If it was nobody would ever go to watch NASCAR. That being said, if the cars ended up in the stands killing spectators on a regular basis it might be bad for in-person attendance. (Or maybe not, you never know.)
The Lodi Parachute Center is a skydiving operation at a small airport north of Stockton immediately adjacent to Hwy 99. Over the years 13 of their clients have died in the course of pursuing their sport. There are federal regulations about how these places are supposed to operate but pretty much zero in the way of state regs, which is odd in California where pretty much every facet of human life has some sort of regulation attached to it.
Our local Democrat-Socialist assemblyperson, Susan Eggman, has just introduced AB295. If passed into law this would hold the operator of the business liable in state court if they did not comply with federal regulations. For some reason not fully understood the feds have, on at least two occasions, proposed very substantial fines against the Center relating to aircraft operation and maintenance. The operator has declined to accept the actions or pay the fines and the feds have declined to pursue the matter legally. The proposed state law would allow persons damaged to pursue the matter in state courts.
Death is, in and of itself, not necessarily bad for businesses. If it was nobody would ever go to watch NASCAR. That being said, if the cars ended up in the stands killing spectators on a regular basis it might be bad for in-person attendance. (Or maybe not, you never know.)
The Lodi Parachute Center is a skydiving operation at a small airport north of Stockton immediately adjacent to Hwy 99. Over the years 13 of their clients have died in the course of pursuing their sport. There are federal regulations about how these places are supposed to operate but pretty much zero in the way of state regs, which is odd in California where pretty much every facet of human life has some sort of regulation attached to it.
Our local Democrat-Socialist assemblyperson, Susan Eggman, has just introduced AB295. If passed into law this would hold the operator of the business liable in state court if they did not comply with federal regulations. For some reason not fully understood the feds have, on at least two occasions, proposed very substantial fines against the Center relating to aircraft operation and maintenance. The operator has declined to accept the actions or pay the fines and the feds have declined to pursue the matter legally. The proposed state law would allow persons damaged to pursue the matter in state courts.
COMPASSIONATE APOLOGY FROM AN IRISH HOSPITAL
MERCY HOSPITAL
Cork, Ireland
Dear Mr. Murphy,
We are pleased to inform you that the biopsy of the redness on your penis showed it was not cancerous.
It was lipstick.
We deeply regret the amputation.
Sincerely
Sean O’Brien, MD
Director, Mercy Cancer Center
Cork, Ireland
Dear Mr. Murphy,
We are pleased to inform you that the biopsy of the redness on your penis showed it was not cancerous.
It was lipstick.
We deeply regret the amputation.
Sincerely
Sean O’Brien, MD
Director, Mercy Cancer Center
Sunday, February 05, 2017
CREDIT CARD FRAUD
Chip or no chip, credit card fraud is on the rise with the biggest problem being the numbers printed on the actual card
By Randy Mac
NBC4
February 2, 2017
Credit card fraud is on the rise despite those new chip cards that were supposed to help reduce it.
A leading research company says credit card fraud is up 18 percent from 2015. That's about $16 billion in total losses, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.
How is that possible? There are a couple things:
Online shopping is one of them. Most of the increase comes from punching in credit card numbers online, which is a lot less secure than using the credit card chips in person.
Most of the other problems came from brick-and-mortar stores without chip technology.
While skimming is a concern, the biggest problem is the numbers printed on the actual card.
The easiest way to stay secure? Cover your credit card with your hand so crooks can't take a picture of the numbers on it and steal your information.
By Randy Mac
NBC4
February 2, 2017
Credit card fraud is on the rise despite those new chip cards that were supposed to help reduce it.
A leading research company says credit card fraud is up 18 percent from 2015. That's about $16 billion in total losses, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.
How is that possible? There are a couple things:
Online shopping is one of them. Most of the increase comes from punching in credit card numbers online, which is a lot less secure than using the credit card chips in person.
Most of the other problems came from brick-and-mortar stores without chip technology.
While skimming is a concern, the biggest problem is the numbers printed on the actual card.
The easiest way to stay secure? Cover your credit card with your hand so crooks can't take a picture of the numbers on it and steal your information.
LAWYER IS DRUNKEN RACIST ASSHOLE
by Bob Walsh
Alexander MacKinnon, 47, is a solicitor (civil lawyer) in the U.K. He happened to have been on a train from London to Glasgow recently when he went off on a woman, Sannaa Shahid and her young son, Zayn, who were seated in the first class carriage. He was recorded on cell-phone video going 5150 on Ms. Shahid and her son, expressing among other opinions that they had no business in first class, no business on the train, no business in the U. K. at all and should go back to wherever they came from. (They are in fact natives of Glasgow.)
Had Mr. MacKinnon not be so sloshed he might have recalled that the U. K. has some very strict laws about racially discriminatory utterances in public. In many ways they are even more PC than the U. S.
MacKinnon copped to racially aggravated public disorder and was fined about $1,500 plus costs.
Ms. Shahid was a trifle put off by the fact that the other passengers did not come to her aid, leaving her to run down the train manager (conductor?) MacKinnon was thrown off the train and arrested by the transport police.
Ms. Shahid had allowed that this was the first time she had ever been the focus of such an incident. The asshole was also recorded screaming obscenities at the kid.
Alexander MacKinnon, 47, is a solicitor (civil lawyer) in the U.K. He happened to have been on a train from London to Glasgow recently when he went off on a woman, Sannaa Shahid and her young son, Zayn, who were seated in the first class carriage. He was recorded on cell-phone video going 5150 on Ms. Shahid and her son, expressing among other opinions that they had no business in first class, no business on the train, no business in the U. K. at all and should go back to wherever they came from. (They are in fact natives of Glasgow.)
Had Mr. MacKinnon not be so sloshed he might have recalled that the U. K. has some very strict laws about racially discriminatory utterances in public. In many ways they are even more PC than the U. S.
MacKinnon copped to racially aggravated public disorder and was fined about $1,500 plus costs.
Ms. Shahid was a trifle put off by the fact that the other passengers did not come to her aid, leaving her to run down the train manager (conductor?) MacKinnon was thrown off the train and arrested by the transport police.
Ms. Shahid had allowed that this was the first time she had ever been the focus of such an incident. The asshole was also recorded screaming obscenities at the kid.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY WORKED
by Bob Walsh
A 42-year old man recently beat some very serious charges over sexual contact with a 9-year old girl. The interesting thing is he admitted to the acts, but still beat the charges and is now filing a civil suit.
Daniel Hughes entered a hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis, MO. back in 2014. It wasn't his room. He stripped down to his underwear, climbed into bed with the 9-year old girl that was occupying the bed and initiated some sort of sexual contact with her.
His defense was he was drunk, the room clerk gave him the "wrong" key, and in his drunken and disoriented state he believed the girl was in fact a woman he had been out with socially earlier in the day. The jury bought it. He was found not-guilty on all counts.
He admits having asked for the "wrong" room key and faults the hotel for giving him the key without checking I.D. He is suing the hotel for unspecified damages. He was sacked by his employer, Enterprise Leasing, after his arrest. That loss of employment is the basis for the lawsuit.
A 42-year old man recently beat some very serious charges over sexual contact with a 9-year old girl. The interesting thing is he admitted to the acts, but still beat the charges and is now filing a civil suit.
Daniel Hughes entered a hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis, MO. back in 2014. It wasn't his room. He stripped down to his underwear, climbed into bed with the 9-year old girl that was occupying the bed and initiated some sort of sexual contact with her.
His defense was he was drunk, the room clerk gave him the "wrong" key, and in his drunken and disoriented state he believed the girl was in fact a woman he had been out with socially earlier in the day. The jury bought it. He was found not-guilty on all counts.
He admits having asked for the "wrong" room key and faults the hotel for giving him the key without checking I.D. He is suing the hotel for unspecified damages. He was sacked by his employer, Enterprise Leasing, after his arrest. That loss of employment is the basis for the lawsuit.
AMERICANS APOLOGIZE TO AUSTRALIA
In light of Donald Trump's fiery phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, we have received an unprecedented number of letters from Americans apologising for their president. Here's a selection:
The Sydney Morning Herald
February 3, 2017
Please share with the good people of Australia our deepest and sincerest apologies for the behaviour of the man who now occupies the White House. ("Donald Trump will 'respect' deal made with Prime Minister 'Trunbull'", February 3)
As an American citizen, who has spent a lifetime in government service, who has lived through the administrations of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and beyond, I can tell you that we have never had such an oaf in office before. I am so sorry. To PM Turnbull, please accept our apologies.
Please, never forget, He does NOT represent the views and attitudes of the American people. He is a minority president who lost the popular vote by approximately three million votes. He barely won the electoral college by 42,000 votes in states where over 400,000 voters were purged from the rolls and were not permitted to vote. It will get worse before it gets better ... brace yourselves, we're all in this together.
Robert Mikol, Fairbanks, Alaska
Dear Australia,
I am so very sorry that we have elected such a boor and ignoramus as our president, and that he has chosen to insult such a good friend as you have been to us. As you probably know, most of us did not vote for this so-called person, but through bad luck and electoral peculiarities we are stuck with him. I just want all of you to know that we love and appreciate Australia, and that we are horrified and embarrassed at his daily hissy-fits. You, of all people, should never have been at the receiving end of one of his tantrums. Please bear with us and accept our heartfelt apologies.
Love America.
Kyle Riggs, Ashland, Oregon
Come now, can anyone be surprised by anything that Donald (Tweety) Trump says and does? Weren't you watching and listening to his performance during the campaigns and election for the presidency? It's P.T. Barnum Goes to Washington. Malcolm Turnbull should not feel too upset that his call to the White House ended abruptly. Anything that runs beyond 140 characters stretches beyond Tweety's attention span.
Bill O'Reilly, Hastings on Hudson, New York
I would like to apologise to the people of Australia and their Prime Minister for any offence given by our current President. This apology for the words and actions of a defective human being, are for both current events and for all future episodes of intellectual and civilised lapses.
Robert Pike, Fremont,California
On behalf of the 70 million voters in America who did NOT vote for Donald Trump, please accept our sincerest apologies for his behaviour. Americans, regardless of political stripe, admire, respect and love your country. Aussies rock!!
Dean Starr, Libertyville, Illinois
I woke up this morning, and read a brief account of Trump's phone conversation with your Prime Minister this week. I was and am in shock. I apologise (even though I know I really don't have to for myself) for what happened. I have never been so embarrassed and so ashamed to be an American. And I am crying deep tears of sorrow and anger.
Know that there are millions of Americans marching and protesting and writing letters in defiance of this president and this new administration, and we hope beyond hope that their tenure will be short, and the world can regain some of it's sanity.
I'm sorry.
Jack Leishman, Ashland, Oregon
I wanted add my apology to the Australian people for the embarrassing actions by our new president. Australia collectively is one of our closest and cherished friends and it pains me that Trump's treatment of your government, country and people is behaviour beyond belief. Keep the faith as we fight here toward minimising Trump's damage or removing him completely from office.
Bruce Barnes, Atlanta, Georgia
I've been lucky to travel extensively through Australia, enjoy its people, its beauty, and its culture. In the process, I made some very dear friends. The childish, reactionary, petulant behaviour of Trumplethinskin does not represent who or what most Americans are. His unhinged rants and tweets are a product of a seriously diseased mind. To put it in simple terms, terms which even he may comprehend - WE APOLOGISE!
Robert Kezelis, Palos Heights Illinois
Dear People of Australia and Prime Minister Turnbull,
I apologise for the boorish behavior of Mr. Trump. I have no idea how we raised him so poorly.
Steven Miles, Minneapolis, Minnesota
EDITOR’S NOTE: My good Australian friend Dorina says: Dear American friends .... Australians are not offended, really - Prime Minister Turnbull is on the 'nose' Downunder !!!
“On the nose” is Australian slang for smelly or malodorous.
The Sydney Morning Herald
February 3, 2017
Please share with the good people of Australia our deepest and sincerest apologies for the behaviour of the man who now occupies the White House. ("Donald Trump will 'respect' deal made with Prime Minister 'Trunbull'", February 3)
As an American citizen, who has spent a lifetime in government service, who has lived through the administrations of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and beyond, I can tell you that we have never had such an oaf in office before. I am so sorry. To PM Turnbull, please accept our apologies.
Please, never forget, He does NOT represent the views and attitudes of the American people. He is a minority president who lost the popular vote by approximately three million votes. He barely won the electoral college by 42,000 votes in states where over 400,000 voters were purged from the rolls and were not permitted to vote. It will get worse before it gets better ... brace yourselves, we're all in this together.
Robert Mikol, Fairbanks, Alaska
Dear Australia,
I am so very sorry that we have elected such a boor and ignoramus as our president, and that he has chosen to insult such a good friend as you have been to us. As you probably know, most of us did not vote for this so-called person, but through bad luck and electoral peculiarities we are stuck with him. I just want all of you to know that we love and appreciate Australia, and that we are horrified and embarrassed at his daily hissy-fits. You, of all people, should never have been at the receiving end of one of his tantrums. Please bear with us and accept our heartfelt apologies.
Love America.
Kyle Riggs, Ashland, Oregon
Come now, can anyone be surprised by anything that Donald (Tweety) Trump says and does? Weren't you watching and listening to his performance during the campaigns and election for the presidency? It's P.T. Barnum Goes to Washington. Malcolm Turnbull should not feel too upset that his call to the White House ended abruptly. Anything that runs beyond 140 characters stretches beyond Tweety's attention span.
Bill O'Reilly, Hastings on Hudson, New York
I would like to apologise to the people of Australia and their Prime Minister for any offence given by our current President. This apology for the words and actions of a defective human being, are for both current events and for all future episodes of intellectual and civilised lapses.
Robert Pike, Fremont,California
On behalf of the 70 million voters in America who did NOT vote for Donald Trump, please accept our sincerest apologies for his behaviour. Americans, regardless of political stripe, admire, respect and love your country. Aussies rock!!
Dean Starr, Libertyville, Illinois
I woke up this morning, and read a brief account of Trump's phone conversation with your Prime Minister this week. I was and am in shock. I apologise (even though I know I really don't have to for myself) for what happened. I have never been so embarrassed and so ashamed to be an American. And I am crying deep tears of sorrow and anger.
Know that there are millions of Americans marching and protesting and writing letters in defiance of this president and this new administration, and we hope beyond hope that their tenure will be short, and the world can regain some of it's sanity.
I'm sorry.
Jack Leishman, Ashland, Oregon
I wanted add my apology to the Australian people for the embarrassing actions by our new president. Australia collectively is one of our closest and cherished friends and it pains me that Trump's treatment of your government, country and people is behaviour beyond belief. Keep the faith as we fight here toward minimising Trump's damage or removing him completely from office.
Bruce Barnes, Atlanta, Georgia
I've been lucky to travel extensively through Australia, enjoy its people, its beauty, and its culture. In the process, I made some very dear friends. The childish, reactionary, petulant behaviour of Trumplethinskin does not represent who or what most Americans are. His unhinged rants and tweets are a product of a seriously diseased mind. To put it in simple terms, terms which even he may comprehend - WE APOLOGISE!
Robert Kezelis, Palos Heights Illinois
Dear People of Australia and Prime Minister Turnbull,
I apologise for the boorish behavior of Mr. Trump. I have no idea how we raised him so poorly.
Steven Miles, Minneapolis, Minnesota
EDITOR’S NOTE: My good Australian friend Dorina says: Dear American friends .... Australians are not offended, really - Prime Minister Turnbull is on the 'nose' Downunder !!!
“On the nose” is Australian slang for smelly or malodorous.
WASHINGTON COP SUES MAYOR WHO SAID HE ‘DESERVES TO DIE’
In a Facebook post about the shooting, Wapato Mayor Tony Guzman called Officer Michael Campos a murderer and said Campos "deserves to die in prison."
By Phil Ferolito
Yakima Herald-Republic
February 4, 2017
WAPATO, Washington -- Included in the claim are several letters from area police officers fearing for the safety of Officer Michael Campos, and saying he could be targeted as a result of the shooting and that Mayor Tony Guzman's web postings contributed to a hostile working environment.
However, contacted this afternoon, Wapato Police Chief Dave Simmons said there's been no evidence that Campos faces any enhanced danger.
"As of this date, there is nothing that we've been able to find -- we've done our due diligence checking social media -- that puts him in any more danger than any other officer," Simmons said.
Meanwhile, Campos has been working away from the streets in a detective position to allow him time to re-acclimate, Simmons said.
Original Story:
Wapato police Officer Michael Campos has filed a $1.5 million claim against the city for comments Mayor Tony Guzman posted on social media about Campos after the officer fatally shot a man during a domestic violence call last July.
In a Facebook post about the shooting, Guzman called Campos a murderer and said Campos "deserves to die in prison."
Following investigations by two outside law enforcement agencies, the Yakima County Prosecutor's Office ruled the shooting justified.
Campos, who was placed on paid leave following the shooting, returned to work last month.
In his claim, Campos said he's suffered defamation and the mayor's comments created a hostile work environment for him.
The city has until Feb. 7 to respond.
If the city ignores the claim, Campos plans to sue the city, said his attorney, Bill Pickett in Yakima.
By Phil Ferolito
Yakima Herald-Republic
February 4, 2017
WAPATO, Washington -- Included in the claim are several letters from area police officers fearing for the safety of Officer Michael Campos, and saying he could be targeted as a result of the shooting and that Mayor Tony Guzman's web postings contributed to a hostile working environment.
However, contacted this afternoon, Wapato Police Chief Dave Simmons said there's been no evidence that Campos faces any enhanced danger.
"As of this date, there is nothing that we've been able to find -- we've done our due diligence checking social media -- that puts him in any more danger than any other officer," Simmons said.
Meanwhile, Campos has been working away from the streets in a detective position to allow him time to re-acclimate, Simmons said.
Original Story:
Wapato police Officer Michael Campos has filed a $1.5 million claim against the city for comments Mayor Tony Guzman posted on social media about Campos after the officer fatally shot a man during a domestic violence call last July.
In a Facebook post about the shooting, Guzman called Campos a murderer and said Campos "deserves to die in prison."
Following investigations by two outside law enforcement agencies, the Yakima County Prosecutor's Office ruled the shooting justified.
Campos, who was placed on paid leave following the shooting, returned to work last month.
In his claim, Campos said he's suffered defamation and the mayor's comments created a hostile work environment for him.
The city has until Feb. 7 to respond.
If the city ignores the claim, Campos plans to sue the city, said his attorney, Bill Pickett in Yakima.
CITIZEN RECEIVES REPLY FROM PENTAGON AFTER EXPRESSING HER CONCERN OVER THE TREATMENT OF TERRORIST DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO
The Defense Department takes every citizen complaint seriously. Here is the letter a San Francisco woman received from the Pentagon after she expressed her concern over the treatment of detained terrorists at Guantanamo.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
The Pentagon
Washington, DC
Dear Concerned Citizen,
Thank you for your recent letter expressing your profound concern of treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda and RADICAL ISLAMIC terrorists captured by American Forces, who were subsequently transferred to the GITMO.
Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinions were heard loud and clear here at the Pentagon. You will be pleased to learn, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating a new department here at the Defense Department to be called 'Shelter and Help an Islamic Terrorist' or SHIT for short.
In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided, on a trial basis, to divert several terrorists and place them in homes of concerned citizens such as yourself, around the country, for those terrorists' personal care. Your personal detainee has been selected and is scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence in San Francisco next Monday.
Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud is your detainee, and is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of complaint. You will be pleased to know that we will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with your recommendations.
Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his 'attitudinal problem' will help him overcome those character flaws. Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counselling and home schooling, however, we strongly recommend that you hire some assistant caretakers (and maybe even personal body guards - at your own expense.)
Please advise any Jewish friends, neighbors or relatives about your house guest, as he might get agitated or even violent, but we are sure you can reason with him. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up with child proof locks, unless in your opinion, this might offend him. Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills either in your home or wherever you choose to take him while helping him adjust to life in our country. (For you safety we have alerted all of the Starbucks in the greater San Francisco area to be on alert in case you want to bring him in for a double monicino latte.)
Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters except sexually, since he views females as a form of property, thereby having no rights, including refusal of his sexual demands. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him.
You also should know that he has shown violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the dress code that he will recommend as more appropriate attire. I'm sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time. Just remember that it is all part of respecting his culture and religious beliefs as described in your letter.
You take good care of Ahmed and remember that we will try to have a counsellor available to help you over any difficulties you encounter while Ahmed is adjusting to American culture.
Thanks again for your concern. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job and care for our fellow man. Good luck and God bless you.
Cordially,
Captain John R. Michaelson, Information Officer
Department of Defense
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
The Pentagon
Washington, DC
Dear Concerned Citizen,
Thank you for your recent letter expressing your profound concern of treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda and RADICAL ISLAMIC terrorists captured by American Forces, who were subsequently transferred to the GITMO.
Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinions were heard loud and clear here at the Pentagon. You will be pleased to learn, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating a new department here at the Defense Department to be called 'Shelter and Help an Islamic Terrorist' or SHIT for short.
In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided, on a trial basis, to divert several terrorists and place them in homes of concerned citizens such as yourself, around the country, for those terrorists' personal care. Your personal detainee has been selected and is scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence in San Francisco next Monday.
Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud is your detainee, and is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of complaint. You will be pleased to know that we will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with your recommendations.
Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his 'attitudinal problem' will help him overcome those character flaws. Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counselling and home schooling, however, we strongly recommend that you hire some assistant caretakers (and maybe even personal body guards - at your own expense.)
Please advise any Jewish friends, neighbors or relatives about your house guest, as he might get agitated or even violent, but we are sure you can reason with him. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up with child proof locks, unless in your opinion, this might offend him. Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills either in your home or wherever you choose to take him while helping him adjust to life in our country. (For you safety we have alerted all of the Starbucks in the greater San Francisco area to be on alert in case you want to bring him in for a double monicino latte.)
Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters except sexually, since he views females as a form of property, thereby having no rights, including refusal of his sexual demands. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him.
You also should know that he has shown violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the dress code that he will recommend as more appropriate attire. I'm sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time. Just remember that it is all part of respecting his culture and religious beliefs as described in your letter.
You take good care of Ahmed and remember that we will try to have a counsellor available to help you over any difficulties you encounter while Ahmed is adjusting to American culture.
Thanks again for your concern. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job and care for our fellow man. Good luck and God bless you.
Cordially,
Captain John R. Michaelson, Information Officer
Department of Defense
Saturday, February 04, 2017
IS NYU THE EAST COAST BERKELEY?
Protesters storm NYU over conservative speaker’s seminar
By Chris Perez and Gina Daidone
New York Post
February 2, 2017
The NYPD was out in full force at NYU on Thursday night as protesters gathered to voice their disgust with conservative actor and Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes, who was inside holding a seminar for the school’s College Republicans.
“Just saw 4 vans of cops unload outside of the NYU Anti-Fa protest of Gavin McInnes’ talk,” Jason Miller tweeted at around 7 p.m. Thursday.
“They are threatening to arrest everyone in the herd now, each cop with roughly 8-10 zip ties in tow,” he said.
NYU Local, the university’s independent news source, also took to Twitter to alert the public of the situation taking place outside the Kimmel, Rosenthal Pavilion on Thursday night.
“Arrests happening outside of Kimmel,” they tweeted.
Eleven people were arrested.
McInnes, who left Vice in 2008, had been scheduled to talk to the NYU College Republicans at 7 p.m., and was later spotted on Periscope live video speaking at the podium and shouting at protesters, who managed to make it inside the venue.
“Whose campus? Our campus!” demonstrators yelled as McInnes attempted to speak.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” the crowd added.
“Why are you repeating the same nonsense over and over?” McInnes asked at one point, before riling up the protesters even more.
After a few more minutes of back-and-forth, the controversial comedian appeared to end his speech early — telling an NYU spokesperson, “You’re a dumb liberal asshole” and “You think these are rational beings” — before storming away, NYU Local reports.
“Gavin has left the podium, doesn’t intend to come back,” the news source tweeted. “Leaves with aforementioned scathing remark to University spokesman.”
McInnes almost didn’t even make it inside on Thursday night, on account of the “antifa” protesters rushing him at the entrance, according to Gizmodo reporter Anna Merlan.
“Cops shoved them back, took a guy to the ground,” she tweeted. “Guy in a MAGA hat threw a punch.”
As McInnes entered, the unruly crowd chanted things like, “Nazi scum, your time has come,” while also lighting “Make America Great Again” hats on fire.
“Looked like someone might’ve been trying to spray something at McInnes? Hopefully Nair,” Merlan tweeted, adding that at least one pro-Trump spectator was also busted.
“Cops arresting a MAGA fan who just assaulted a reporter. NYPD didn’t seem to see but the rest of us did,” she said.
The protest was apparently organized on Facebook, under the name “Disrupt Gavin McInnes at NYU.”
“Come to Kimmel, Rosenthal Pavilion to let NYU know that we will not stand for bigotry, racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny on our campus,” the event page reads. “Gavin McInnes has a long track record of using incendiary language to attract media attention and frenzy … Most recently, in December 2016, Gavin McInnes launched an informal group called the Proud Boys, an ‘anti racial guilt,’ anti-feminist organization. When NYC Antifa began to share information about members of the group with their employers (in many cases leading to job loss), McInnes urged the Proud Boys to attend an Antifa concert and ‘wreck the shit’ of the ‘faggots.'”
In response to the demonstration, the College Republicans put out a statement Thursday night, saying it was “a shame” that the protesters “couldn’t be respectful” of McInnes.
“I’m disappointed that many students on this campus are so disrespectful when it comes to hearing opposing speakers,” a spokesperson told NYU Local. “Our intention was not to advocate for McInnes’s views, in fact many of us differ with him when it comes to certain ideas. The purpose of this event was to promote free speech and NOT to promote certain ideas.
“There’s a strong idea on this campus that the slightest opposing views are completely unwelcomed,” they added. “We understand that his presence was controversial but we didn’t expect these outburst [sic] from this institution. We hope that in the future, NYU students will be more open to hearing ideas that are different from their own.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: What the Post did not make clear was that McInnes was pepper-sprayed by a protester as he was about to enter the building where he was scheduled to speak.
McInnes sure got it right when he told that NYU spokesperson, “You’re a dumb liberal asshole.”
__________
NYU PROFESSOR LAUNCHES TIRADE AGAINST NYPD FOR NOT PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM NAZIS
Campus Reform
February 3, 2017
Violence erupted outside New York University’s main campus last night at a College Republican event hosting conservative comedian Gavin McInnes.
In one video, a woman who calls herself a professor profanely expresses her objections to McInnes’ attendance, calling him and his audience “Nazis.”
“Why are you [NYPD] here?” she can be heard shouting. “You’re not here to protect these students from Nazis.”
“This is completely fucked up and these students have to fucking face them on their own. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” she screams at police officers on hand to maintain order. “You should be standing up to those Nazis. You should be protecting these students from hate. This is hate. These are fucking assholes.
“I am a professor!” she continues, shrieking, “How dare you, how dare you fucking assholes protect neo-Nazis. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you. These are kids trying to learn about humanity. They are trying to learn about human rights.”
“Fuck you, NYPD,” she concluded.
EDITOR’S NOTE: As I stated on the post about the UC Berkeley riot, I think the police should revert to the old skull-cracking days in dealing with rioting students. A few cracked heads suffered by these numbskulls will usually calm things down.
And the first protester’s head I would strum is the head of this shit-for-brains professor.
Unfortunately, the small number of arrests made at UC Berkeley and NYU indicate the police are under orders to let the protesters riot.
By Chris Perez and Gina Daidone
New York Post
February 2, 2017
The NYPD was out in full force at NYU on Thursday night as protesters gathered to voice their disgust with conservative actor and Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes, who was inside holding a seminar for the school’s College Republicans.
“Just saw 4 vans of cops unload outside of the NYU Anti-Fa protest of Gavin McInnes’ talk,” Jason Miller tweeted at around 7 p.m. Thursday.
“They are threatening to arrest everyone in the herd now, each cop with roughly 8-10 zip ties in tow,” he said.
NYU Local, the university’s independent news source, also took to Twitter to alert the public of the situation taking place outside the Kimmel, Rosenthal Pavilion on Thursday night.
“Arrests happening outside of Kimmel,” they tweeted.
Eleven people were arrested.
McInnes, who left Vice in 2008, had been scheduled to talk to the NYU College Republicans at 7 p.m., and was later spotted on Periscope live video speaking at the podium and shouting at protesters, who managed to make it inside the venue.
“Whose campus? Our campus!” demonstrators yelled as McInnes attempted to speak.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” the crowd added.
“Why are you repeating the same nonsense over and over?” McInnes asked at one point, before riling up the protesters even more.
After a few more minutes of back-and-forth, the controversial comedian appeared to end his speech early — telling an NYU spokesperson, “You’re a dumb liberal asshole” and “You think these are rational beings” — before storming away, NYU Local reports.
“Gavin has left the podium, doesn’t intend to come back,” the news source tweeted. “Leaves with aforementioned scathing remark to University spokesman.”
McInnes almost didn’t even make it inside on Thursday night, on account of the “antifa” protesters rushing him at the entrance, according to Gizmodo reporter Anna Merlan.
“Cops shoved them back, took a guy to the ground,” she tweeted. “Guy in a MAGA hat threw a punch.”
As McInnes entered, the unruly crowd chanted things like, “Nazi scum, your time has come,” while also lighting “Make America Great Again” hats on fire.
“Looked like someone might’ve been trying to spray something at McInnes? Hopefully Nair,” Merlan tweeted, adding that at least one pro-Trump spectator was also busted.
“Cops arresting a MAGA fan who just assaulted a reporter. NYPD didn’t seem to see but the rest of us did,” she said.
The protest was apparently organized on Facebook, under the name “Disrupt Gavin McInnes at NYU.”
“Come to Kimmel, Rosenthal Pavilion to let NYU know that we will not stand for bigotry, racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny on our campus,” the event page reads. “Gavin McInnes has a long track record of using incendiary language to attract media attention and frenzy … Most recently, in December 2016, Gavin McInnes launched an informal group called the Proud Boys, an ‘anti racial guilt,’ anti-feminist organization. When NYC Antifa began to share information about members of the group with their employers (in many cases leading to job loss), McInnes urged the Proud Boys to attend an Antifa concert and ‘wreck the shit’ of the ‘faggots.'”
In response to the demonstration, the College Republicans put out a statement Thursday night, saying it was “a shame” that the protesters “couldn’t be respectful” of McInnes.
“I’m disappointed that many students on this campus are so disrespectful when it comes to hearing opposing speakers,” a spokesperson told NYU Local. “Our intention was not to advocate for McInnes’s views, in fact many of us differ with him when it comes to certain ideas. The purpose of this event was to promote free speech and NOT to promote certain ideas.
“There’s a strong idea on this campus that the slightest opposing views are completely unwelcomed,” they added. “We understand that his presence was controversial but we didn’t expect these outburst [sic] from this institution. We hope that in the future, NYU students will be more open to hearing ideas that are different from their own.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: What the Post did not make clear was that McInnes was pepper-sprayed by a protester as he was about to enter the building where he was scheduled to speak.
McInnes sure got it right when he told that NYU spokesperson, “You’re a dumb liberal asshole.”
__________
NYU PROFESSOR LAUNCHES TIRADE AGAINST NYPD FOR NOT PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM NAZIS
Campus Reform
February 3, 2017
Violence erupted outside New York University’s main campus last night at a College Republican event hosting conservative comedian Gavin McInnes.
In one video, a woman who calls herself a professor profanely expresses her objections to McInnes’ attendance, calling him and his audience “Nazis.”
“Why are you [NYPD] here?” she can be heard shouting. “You’re not here to protect these students from Nazis.”
“This is completely fucked up and these students have to fucking face them on their own. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” she screams at police officers on hand to maintain order. “You should be standing up to those Nazis. You should be protecting these students from hate. This is hate. These are fucking assholes.
“I am a professor!” she continues, shrieking, “How dare you, how dare you fucking assholes protect neo-Nazis. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you. These are kids trying to learn about humanity. They are trying to learn about human rights.”
“Fuck you, NYPD,” she concluded.
EDITOR’S NOTE: As I stated on the post about the UC Berkeley riot, I think the police should revert to the old skull-cracking days in dealing with rioting students. A few cracked heads suffered by these numbskulls will usually calm things down.
And the first protester’s head I would strum is the head of this shit-for-brains professor.
Unfortunately, the small number of arrests made at UC Berkeley and NYU indicate the police are under orders to let the protesters riot.
THE CARROT AND THE STICK...OR SOMETHING
by Bob Walsh
Nina Scott is, or maybe was, a teacher at a school for teenagers with emotional problems in Radnor, PA. She found an interesting way of connecting with one of her students, in the sack.
Ms. Scott is being charged with 34 counts of institutional sexual assault of a minor and 34 counts of corruption of a minor for her relationship with the 16 year old girl. Over a period of about six months they were having sex at school, in the teacher's car or in the teacher's home, pretty much anywhere they had enough room to do it.
At some point the young lady was moved into juvenile detention and the staff at juvie found a rather steamy journal. At that time the cops got involved.
Ms. Scott is being held pending $100,000 bail. Her lawyer describes her as "a good person." I think that's nice of him.
EDITOR'S NOTE: 68 counts? It must have been a slow day at the DA's office.
Nina Scott is, or maybe was, a teacher at a school for teenagers with emotional problems in Radnor, PA. She found an interesting way of connecting with one of her students, in the sack.
Ms. Scott is being charged with 34 counts of institutional sexual assault of a minor and 34 counts of corruption of a minor for her relationship with the 16 year old girl. Over a period of about six months they were having sex at school, in the teacher's car or in the teacher's home, pretty much anywhere they had enough room to do it.
At some point the young lady was moved into juvenile detention and the staff at juvie found a rather steamy journal. At that time the cops got involved.
Ms. Scott is being held pending $100,000 bail. Her lawyer describes her as "a good person." I think that's nice of him.
EDITOR'S NOTE: 68 counts? It must have been a slow day at the DA's office.
ONE PERSON'S JOYOUS OCCASION IS ANOTHER PERSON'S BULLSHIT
by Bob Walsh
Leslie Daugs is a member of the City Council of Bremerton, Washington. She happend to be in D.C. earlier this week and attended the senate hearing on the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to be the Attorney General. She was just horribly offended by some fist-bumping and high-fives of some apparent Trump supporters and offered the opinion, "THIS IS BULLSHIT." Very loudly. Her happy ass was arrested by capitol police.
Leslie Daugs is a member of the City Council of Bremerton, Washington. She happend to be in D.C. earlier this week and attended the senate hearing on the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to be the Attorney General. She was just horribly offended by some fist-bumping and high-fives of some apparent Trump supporters and offered the opinion, "THIS IS BULLSHIT." Very loudly. Her happy ass was arrested by capitol police.
TEXAS COP FATALLY SHOOTS MAN WHO RAN OVER ANOTHER ARLINGTON OFFICER TWICE
In an attempt to get the the suspect to stop, one of the backup officers then got into Travis Crane’s car from the rear passenger door and shot him
By Azia Branson
Star-Telegram
February 2, 2017
ARLINGTON, Texas -- A 23-year-old man was fatally shot by police after he reportedly ran over an Arlington officer twice Wednesday night, police said Thursday.
The female officer, a 14-year veteran, was conducting a traffic stop at 11:38 p.m. at the 1700 block of Spring Lake Drive when she noticed the driver, Tavis Crane, had warrants out for his arrest, an Arlington police news release said. Four people were in the car at the time.
Crane had a felony warrant from Dallas County for a probation violation of evading arrest. and multiple misdemeanor warrants out of Grand Prairie, police said.
Records show that Crane had addresses in both Arlington and Grand Prairie. He has been arrested several times since 2011 in connection with a variety of offenses, from possession of marijuana to aggravated assault, records show.
The patrol officer called for backup after stopping Crane on Wednesday night, and two additional units responded. When the officers approached Crane to arrest him, he refused to comply and put his car in reverse, hitting the female officer and slamming into her patrol car, police said.
In an attempt to get the the suspect to stop, one of the backup officers then got into Crane’s car from the rear passenger door and shot him.
Crane pulled forward, again running over the female officer, as he tried to flee, but his car came to a stop at the end of the road, police said. Officers tried to help the suspect before he was taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:31 a.m., according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s website.
Two other adults and a toddler inside the suspect’s car were not injured. Police are interviewing the two adults to determine the extent of their involvement. The child was released to other family members.
The female officer was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in serious condition with several broken bones but is expected to recover, police said.
The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on routine administrative leave, police said.
Arlington police will continue to investigate.
By Azia Branson
Star-Telegram
February 2, 2017
ARLINGTON, Texas -- A 23-year-old man was fatally shot by police after he reportedly ran over an Arlington officer twice Wednesday night, police said Thursday.
The female officer, a 14-year veteran, was conducting a traffic stop at 11:38 p.m. at the 1700 block of Spring Lake Drive when she noticed the driver, Tavis Crane, had warrants out for his arrest, an Arlington police news release said. Four people were in the car at the time.
Crane had a felony warrant from Dallas County for a probation violation of evading arrest. and multiple misdemeanor warrants out of Grand Prairie, police said.
Records show that Crane had addresses in both Arlington and Grand Prairie. He has been arrested several times since 2011 in connection with a variety of offenses, from possession of marijuana to aggravated assault, records show.
The patrol officer called for backup after stopping Crane on Wednesday night, and two additional units responded. When the officers approached Crane to arrest him, he refused to comply and put his car in reverse, hitting the female officer and slamming into her patrol car, police said.
In an attempt to get the the suspect to stop, one of the backup officers then got into Crane’s car from the rear passenger door and shot him.
Crane pulled forward, again running over the female officer, as he tried to flee, but his car came to a stop at the end of the road, police said. Officers tried to help the suspect before he was taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:31 a.m., according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s website.
Two other adults and a toddler inside the suspect’s car were not injured. Police are interviewing the two adults to determine the extent of their involvement. The child was released to other family members.
The female officer was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in serious condition with several broken bones but is expected to recover, police said.
The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on routine administrative leave, police said.
Arlington police will continue to investigate.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE
Iranian woman will be blinded as punishment for throwing acid in another woman's face, leaving the victim sightless
By Gareth Davies
Daily Mail
February 3, 2017
Iran's supreme court has ruled that a woman must be blinded in one eye as punishment for an acid attack that left her victim sightless.
The sentence was handed down using the principle of 'eye for an eye' of Islamic Sharia law, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
Under Iran's Sharia law, imposed since the 1979 Islamic revolution, qesas - or retribution - is permitted in cases where bodily injuries are inflicted.
The convicted attacker, who was not identified, was found guilty of throwing acid in the face of her victim, identified as Sima, two years ago in the city of Dehdasht.
Head of the judiciary in the province of Kohgiluyeh Majid Karami told Tasnim: 'The sentence to blindness in one eye, payment of blood money (compensation), and seven years imprisonment have been confirmed by the highest court.'
Karami did not say when the sentence was scheduled to be carried out.
Victims and their families have the final say and can prevent the punishment from being imposed, under the law.
Activist Mohammad Surizad in Tehran said some activists had urged Sima's family to 'show clemency and pardon the convicted woman'.
Iranian officials, concerned about the increase in the rate of acid attacks, have endorsed retribution.
However, the practice of carrying out an 'eye for an eye' punishment, is very rare in Iran.
Several acid attacks have been reported in Iran in the past few years.
In 2011, an Iranian woman blinded with acid by her suitor after she spurned his marriage offers spared him hours before surgeons prepared to blind the man with acid.
Rights group Amnesty International have urged Iran not to inflict the punishment.
The concept of qesas also applies to other crimes in Iran, such as murder.
A victim's family can demand the death of a convicted murderer or commute the sentence in return for financial compensation from the criminal.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Works for me!
By Gareth Davies
Daily Mail
February 3, 2017
Iran's supreme court has ruled that a woman must be blinded in one eye as punishment for an acid attack that left her victim sightless.
The sentence was handed down using the principle of 'eye for an eye' of Islamic Sharia law, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.
Under Iran's Sharia law, imposed since the 1979 Islamic revolution, qesas - or retribution - is permitted in cases where bodily injuries are inflicted.
The convicted attacker, who was not identified, was found guilty of throwing acid in the face of her victim, identified as Sima, two years ago in the city of Dehdasht.
Head of the judiciary in the province of Kohgiluyeh Majid Karami told Tasnim: 'The sentence to blindness in one eye, payment of blood money (compensation), and seven years imprisonment have been confirmed by the highest court.'
Karami did not say when the sentence was scheduled to be carried out.
Victims and their families have the final say and can prevent the punishment from being imposed, under the law.
Activist Mohammad Surizad in Tehran said some activists had urged Sima's family to 'show clemency and pardon the convicted woman'.
Iranian officials, concerned about the increase in the rate of acid attacks, have endorsed retribution.
However, the practice of carrying out an 'eye for an eye' punishment, is very rare in Iran.
Several acid attacks have been reported in Iran in the past few years.
In 2011, an Iranian woman blinded with acid by her suitor after she spurned his marriage offers spared him hours before surgeons prepared to blind the man with acid.
Rights group Amnesty International have urged Iran not to inflict the punishment.
The concept of qesas also applies to other crimes in Iran, such as murder.
A victim's family can demand the death of a convicted murderer or commute the sentence in return for financial compensation from the criminal.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Works for me!
Friday, February 03, 2017
DELAWARE PRISON RIOT ENDED
by Bob Walsh
The riot at the state prison at Smyrna, Delaware ended about 0500 on Thursday with the good guys storming the building. One of the two remaining hostages, a male correctional officer, was found dead. The second remaining hostage, a female correctional counselor, was being protected by a group of inmates and was unharmed.
The riot at the state prison at Smyrna, Delaware ended about 0500 on Thursday with the good guys storming the building. One of the two remaining hostages, a male correctional officer, was found dead. The second remaining hostage, a female correctional counselor, was being protected by a group of inmates and was unharmed.
CLEVER PIECE OF LEFT-WING CENSORSHIP
by Bob Walsh
While listening to the noon news today I picked up a very interesting piece of information about a very cleaver (sneaky?) bit of left-wing censorship on behalf of the UC system.
It seems that the university regularly imposes a "special additional security fee" when conservative groups want to have a conservative speaker on campus. Notice of the special fee is always given as close to the deadline as possible and is in excess of $5,000. Most conservative groups on the UC system are fairly small and internally self-funded so coming up with the money on short notice is often problematic and often results in the speaker being cancelled.
However even paying the fee is not a guarantee of any actual security. At both UC Davis and UC Berkeley, within the last ten days, the university has been unable or unwilling to provide adequate security, ending with the speaker being cancelled due to safety concerns.
Pretty slick move, isn't it?
While listening to the noon news today I picked up a very interesting piece of information about a very cleaver (sneaky?) bit of left-wing censorship on behalf of the UC system.
It seems that the university regularly imposes a "special additional security fee" when conservative groups want to have a conservative speaker on campus. Notice of the special fee is always given as close to the deadline as possible and is in excess of $5,000. Most conservative groups on the UC system are fairly small and internally self-funded so coming up with the money on short notice is often problematic and often results in the speaker being cancelled.
However even paying the fee is not a guarantee of any actual security. At both UC Davis and UC Berkeley, within the last ten days, the university has been unable or unwilling to provide adequate security, ending with the speaker being cancelled due to safety concerns.
Pretty slick move, isn't it?
FASCISM OF THE LEFT...AGAIN
by Bob Walsh
Milo Yiannopoulos is a professional shit-stirrer. No doubt about it. And the left absolutely HATES what he has to say. So, rather than engage him in an open exchange of ideas or oppose him in the arena of thought they attempt to shut him down by force. Often successfully.
He was supposed to make a presentation last night at UC Berkeley. The presentation was organized by the Berkeley College Republicans (all six of them) and was supposed to go on at 8 p.m. at the Pauley Ballroom. The university cancelled him at 6 p.m.
A mob of about 1,500 began acting out around the MLK student center. They threw smoke bombs, started fires, broke windows and in general engaged in typical left-wing behavior when something does not go their way or when somebody has an opposing viewpoint that they don't want presented.
Yianopoulos was also supposed to speak at UC Davis recently but was cancelled out over fear of violence.
President Trump has threatened (in a tweet) to withhold federal funds from UC over their refusal to allow Yianopoulos to speak.
Milo Yiannopoulos is a professional shit-stirrer. No doubt about it. And the left absolutely HATES what he has to say. So, rather than engage him in an open exchange of ideas or oppose him in the arena of thought they attempt to shut him down by force. Often successfully.
He was supposed to make a presentation last night at UC Berkeley. The presentation was organized by the Berkeley College Republicans (all six of them) and was supposed to go on at 8 p.m. at the Pauley Ballroom. The university cancelled him at 6 p.m.
A mob of about 1,500 began acting out around the MLK student center. They threw smoke bombs, started fires, broke windows and in general engaged in typical left-wing behavior when something does not go their way or when somebody has an opposing viewpoint that they don't want presented.
Yianopoulos was also supposed to speak at UC Davis recently but was cancelled out over fear of violence.
President Trump has threatened (in a tweet) to withhold federal funds from UC over their refusal to allow Yianopoulos to speak.
HOW MANY KINDS OF STUPID IS THIS ?
by Bob Walsh
An unnamed substitute teacher (maybe former substitute teacher) in Pawhuska, Oklahoma is in moderately deep trouble today. She decided for whatever reason to do a cartwheel in front of the high school choir class. It was apparently not entirely impromptu or unexpected as at least one student recorded the incident on a cell phone. The teacher was wearing a skirt but no underwear. She is now under arrest and in custody on a charge of indecent exposure.
I wonder if the video is up on the internet?
An unnamed substitute teacher (maybe former substitute teacher) in Pawhuska, Oklahoma is in moderately deep trouble today. She decided for whatever reason to do a cartwheel in front of the high school choir class. It was apparently not entirely impromptu or unexpected as at least one student recorded the incident on a cell phone. The teacher was wearing a skirt but no underwear. She is now under arrest and in custody on a charge of indecent exposure.
I wonder if the video is up on the internet?
FURTHER INFO ON DELAWARE PRISON RIOT
by Bob Walsh
A bit more information has been released on the prison situation at Smyrna, Delaware. The building where the situation took place is a maximum security unit where prisoners were being prepared to be released to medium security. Personally I find it odd that there was only one officer on duty in the 100-man unit and that enough prisoners were out of their cells at the same time to take five staff members hostage. I don't know if their security procedures suck, or they just don't follow them, or what the hell is going on.
There is still some difference of opinion as to how many staff hostages are being held but the figure I have seen most often is three. Also some prisoners, who may or may not have been hostages, have been released from the unit.
The prison is surrounded by various law enforcement staff from different agencies and armored vehicles.
EDITOR'S NOTE: When the authorities stormed the main building in control of the rebellious inmates they found the body of a hostage corrections officer.
A bit more information has been released on the prison situation at Smyrna, Delaware. The building where the situation took place is a maximum security unit where prisoners were being prepared to be released to medium security. Personally I find it odd that there was only one officer on duty in the 100-man unit and that enough prisoners were out of their cells at the same time to take five staff members hostage. I don't know if their security procedures suck, or they just don't follow them, or what the hell is going on.
There is still some difference of opinion as to how many staff hostages are being held but the figure I have seen most often is three. Also some prisoners, who may or may not have been hostages, have been released from the unit.
The prison is surrounded by various law enforcement staff from different agencies and armored vehicles.
EDITOR'S NOTE: When the authorities stormed the main building in control of the rebellious inmates they found the body of a hostage corrections officer.
HOME OF THE COLLEGE FREE SPEECH MOVEMENT SUPPRESSES FREE SPEECH
Riot forces cancellation of Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos talk at UC Berkeley
CBS SF/AP
February 1, 2017
BERKELEY, Calif. __ Protesters armed with bricks and fireworks mounted an assault on the building hosting a speech by polarizing Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos Wednesday night, forcing the event’s cancellation.
Several injuries have been reported and at least four banks have been vandalized after demonstrators marched away from the scene of a violent protest at the canceled speaking event by controversial far-right writer and speaker Yiannopoulos on the University of California at Berkeley campus.
UC Berkeley officials said the protest was infiltrated by vandals.
Yiannopoulos was making the last stop of a tour aimed at defying what he calls an epidemic of political correctness on college campuses.
With masked activists joining the already large group of protesters gathered in the area between Sather Gate and the north end of Telegraph Avenue as night fell, campus police were holding their positions near the entrance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building hosting the event.
As the gathered crowd got more agitated, masked “black bloc” activists began hurling projectiles including bricks, lit fireworks and rocks at the building and police.
Some used police barriers as battering rams to attack the doors of the venue, breaching at least one of the doors and entering the venue on the first floor.
In addition to fireworks being thrown up onto the second-floor balcony, fires were lit outside the venue, including one that engulfed a gas-powered portable floodlight.
The area on Upper Sproul Plaza grew thick with smoke, and later tear gas, as the protest intensified.
At about 6:20 p.m., UC campus police announced that the event had been cancelled. Officers ordered the crowd to disperse, calling it an unlawful assembly.
Police then announced that they would lock down the entire campus, though authorities initially remained stationed near the student union building and did not move to force the protesters to disperse.
But police did fire flash bangs at the crowd.
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., Yiannopoulos posted on his Facebook page that he was safe.
“I have been evacuated from the UC Berkeley campus after violent left-wing protestors tore down barricades, lit fires, threw rocks and Roman candles at the windows and breached the ground floor of the building,” the post read. “My team and I are safe. But the event has been cancelled.”
Hundreds of protesters were observed at Wednesday evening’s event. Over 2,100 people responded to a Facebook post that they would be attending.
UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said earlier Wednesday that the university Police Department called in officers from other UC campuses in the area, including Davis, and could ask for help from Oakland police and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office if necessary.
He said that they have studied how the protests have escalated at other campuses and planned accordingly.
“The concerted effort was to really take a close look at lessons learned at other events,” Mogulof said.
Several student groups had called for protests and pledged to shut down the evening event. A number of Yiannopoulos’ talks at other campuses have been canceled due to protests or security reasons.
The 32-year-old right-wing provocateur is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and a self-proclaimed internet troll. He was banned from Twitter after leading a harassment campaign against “Ghostbusters” actress Leslie Jones.
His visit to Berkeley was sponsored by the campus Republican club. The university has stressed it did not invite Yiannopoulos and does not endorse his ideas but is committed to free speech and rejected calls to cancel the event.
Earlier Wednesday, the university sent a notice to all students that warned of crowds near the student union, where the 500-seat, sold-out event was scheduled.
“We anticipate there will be major protest/demonstration activity leading up to and surrounding this event,” the letter from school officials said. It did not discourage protests but advised those who didn’t wish to participate to avoid the area.
Pieter Sittler, a spokesman for the Berkeley College Republicans, said the club doesn’t support everything Yiannopoulos says but “he gives a voice to repressed conservative thought on American college campuses.” He uses “levity and humor” that should not be taken literally, Sittler said.
Yiannopoulos’ talks have sparked protests, shouting matches and occasional violence at stops around the country. A man was shot and wounded at a protest outside his Jan. 21 talk at the University of Washington.
Rowdy protests at UC Davis on Jan. 13 prompted campus Republicans to cancel his appearance at the last minute. His last stop was supposed to be UCLA on Thursday but the invitation was rescinded, making Berkeley his grand finale.
By 8 p.m., a large crowd of people had moved off the campus and onto Telegraph Avenue. They smashed ATMs at a Bank of America branch and set several trash fires on Telegraph Avenue.
After marching west on Durant Avenue, the group moved north on Shattuck Avenue, smashing windows and vandalizing a Mechanics Bank branch near the corner of Bancroft Way.
Chase and Wells Fargo branches were also vandalized. A Starbucks location near campus was vandalized and looted.
Police also received reports that banks were set on fire in the area of Center Street and Shattuck Avenue.
At 9:23 p.m., BART officials announced that trains were not stopping at the Downtown Berkeley station due to a civil disturbance in the area.
Shortly after that, UC Berkeley police reported that protesters were heading back toward campus on Center Street.
By 10:15 p.m. the crowd had largely dispersed and BART officials had re-opened the Downtown Berkeley station.
Berkeley police said that three or four injuries were reported as a result of fighting at the protest, and they are investigating reports of a possible hit-and-run crash in which a driver may have struck a person with a vehicle.
A video posted on social media showed at least one protester on top of a moving vehicle.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Student’s at UC Berkeley, the birthplace and home of the college free speech movement, are strident advocates for free speech ….. but only for left-wing speakers.
I think the police should revert to the old skull-cracking days in dealing with rioting students. A few cracked heads suffered by these numbskulls will usually calm things down.
CBS SF/AP
February 1, 2017
BERKELEY, Calif. __ Protesters armed with bricks and fireworks mounted an assault on the building hosting a speech by polarizing Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos Wednesday night, forcing the event’s cancellation.
Several injuries have been reported and at least four banks have been vandalized after demonstrators marched away from the scene of a violent protest at the canceled speaking event by controversial far-right writer and speaker Yiannopoulos on the University of California at Berkeley campus.
UC Berkeley officials said the protest was infiltrated by vandals.
Yiannopoulos was making the last stop of a tour aimed at defying what he calls an epidemic of political correctness on college campuses.
With masked activists joining the already large group of protesters gathered in the area between Sather Gate and the north end of Telegraph Avenue as night fell, campus police were holding their positions near the entrance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building hosting the event.
As the gathered crowd got more agitated, masked “black bloc” activists began hurling projectiles including bricks, lit fireworks and rocks at the building and police.
Some used police barriers as battering rams to attack the doors of the venue, breaching at least one of the doors and entering the venue on the first floor.
In addition to fireworks being thrown up onto the second-floor balcony, fires were lit outside the venue, including one that engulfed a gas-powered portable floodlight.
The area on Upper Sproul Plaza grew thick with smoke, and later tear gas, as the protest intensified.
At about 6:20 p.m., UC campus police announced that the event had been cancelled. Officers ordered the crowd to disperse, calling it an unlawful assembly.
Police then announced that they would lock down the entire campus, though authorities initially remained stationed near the student union building and did not move to force the protesters to disperse.
But police did fire flash bangs at the crowd.
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., Yiannopoulos posted on his Facebook page that he was safe.
“I have been evacuated from the UC Berkeley campus after violent left-wing protestors tore down barricades, lit fires, threw rocks and Roman candles at the windows and breached the ground floor of the building,” the post read. “My team and I are safe. But the event has been cancelled.”
Hundreds of protesters were observed at Wednesday evening’s event. Over 2,100 people responded to a Facebook post that they would be attending.
UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said earlier Wednesday that the university Police Department called in officers from other UC campuses in the area, including Davis, and could ask for help from Oakland police and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office if necessary.
He said that they have studied how the protests have escalated at other campuses and planned accordingly.
“The concerted effort was to really take a close look at lessons learned at other events,” Mogulof said.
Several student groups had called for protests and pledged to shut down the evening event. A number of Yiannopoulos’ talks at other campuses have been canceled due to protests or security reasons.
The 32-year-old right-wing provocateur is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and a self-proclaimed internet troll. He was banned from Twitter after leading a harassment campaign against “Ghostbusters” actress Leslie Jones.
His visit to Berkeley was sponsored by the campus Republican club. The university has stressed it did not invite Yiannopoulos and does not endorse his ideas but is committed to free speech and rejected calls to cancel the event.
Earlier Wednesday, the university sent a notice to all students that warned of crowds near the student union, where the 500-seat, sold-out event was scheduled.
“We anticipate there will be major protest/demonstration activity leading up to and surrounding this event,” the letter from school officials said. It did not discourage protests but advised those who didn’t wish to participate to avoid the area.
Pieter Sittler, a spokesman for the Berkeley College Republicans, said the club doesn’t support everything Yiannopoulos says but “he gives a voice to repressed conservative thought on American college campuses.” He uses “levity and humor” that should not be taken literally, Sittler said.
Yiannopoulos’ talks have sparked protests, shouting matches and occasional violence at stops around the country. A man was shot and wounded at a protest outside his Jan. 21 talk at the University of Washington.
Rowdy protests at UC Davis on Jan. 13 prompted campus Republicans to cancel his appearance at the last minute. His last stop was supposed to be UCLA on Thursday but the invitation was rescinded, making Berkeley his grand finale.
By 8 p.m., a large crowd of people had moved off the campus and onto Telegraph Avenue. They smashed ATMs at a Bank of America branch and set several trash fires on Telegraph Avenue.
After marching west on Durant Avenue, the group moved north on Shattuck Avenue, smashing windows and vandalizing a Mechanics Bank branch near the corner of Bancroft Way.
Chase and Wells Fargo branches were also vandalized. A Starbucks location near campus was vandalized and looted.
Police also received reports that banks were set on fire in the area of Center Street and Shattuck Avenue.
At 9:23 p.m., BART officials announced that trains were not stopping at the Downtown Berkeley station due to a civil disturbance in the area.
Shortly after that, UC Berkeley police reported that protesters were heading back toward campus on Center Street.
By 10:15 p.m. the crowd had largely dispersed and BART officials had re-opened the Downtown Berkeley station.
Berkeley police said that three or four injuries were reported as a result of fighting at the protest, and they are investigating reports of a possible hit-and-run crash in which a driver may have struck a person with a vehicle.
A video posted on social media showed at least one protester on top of a moving vehicle.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Student’s at UC Berkeley, the birthplace and home of the college free speech movement, are strident advocates for free speech ….. but only for left-wing speakers.
I think the police should revert to the old skull-cracking days in dealing with rioting students. A few cracked heads suffered by these numbskulls will usually calm things down.
CALIFORNIA APPELLATE COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF ‘CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT’
Judge ordered to impose a longer sentence than just 10 years for a man who sodomized a 3-year-old girl
By Brittny Mejia
Los Angeles Times
February 2, 2017
An appeals court this week reversed an Orange County judge’s controversial 10-year sentence for a man who sodomized a 3-year-old girl.
California’s 4th District appellate court concluded Tuesday that Kevin Rojano-Nieto should serve at least 25 years and ordered a resentencing. A resentencing date was not immediately set.
Rojano-Nieto, then 19, was convicted in 2014 of sodomizing the toddler, a relative, who had wandered into a garage where he was playing video games.
The girl told her mother what happened and was taken to a hospital clinic, where a nurse performed a sexual assault exam.
Rojano-Nieto was arrested the same day and eventually confessed, stating that the sodomy lasted for “five seconds.”
He faced a minimum 25-year prison term.
Last year, Orange County Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly found himself in a firestorm when he sentenced Rojano-Nieto to 10 years, stating that the higher sentence would be “cruel and unusual punishment.”
At the time of the sentencing, Orange County supervisors were calling for the judge’s resignation, and thousands signed petitions condemning his actions.
The appellate court concluded that a 25-year-to-life sentence is not “so disproportionate” to the crime.
“We conclude that Rojano committed a grave and serious offense when he sodomized Jane Doe,” the ruling read. “Therefore, a sentence of 25 years to life is not grossly disproportionate to the crime and does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
The district attorney’s office, which had appealed the sentence, said in a statement that it applauded the decision.
“This was a good day for child victims of brutal sex assaults and the People of Orange County,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A sentence beyond 10 years is “cruel and unusual punishment?” Where did they find this lame-brained judge? He should be removed from the bench and disbarred!
Sodomizing a 3-year-old girl should be a capital offense.
By Brittny Mejia
Los Angeles Times
February 2, 2017
An appeals court this week reversed an Orange County judge’s controversial 10-year sentence for a man who sodomized a 3-year-old girl.
California’s 4th District appellate court concluded Tuesday that Kevin Rojano-Nieto should serve at least 25 years and ordered a resentencing. A resentencing date was not immediately set.
Rojano-Nieto, then 19, was convicted in 2014 of sodomizing the toddler, a relative, who had wandered into a garage where he was playing video games.
The girl told her mother what happened and was taken to a hospital clinic, where a nurse performed a sexual assault exam.
Rojano-Nieto was arrested the same day and eventually confessed, stating that the sodomy lasted for “five seconds.”
He faced a minimum 25-year prison term.
Last year, Orange County Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly found himself in a firestorm when he sentenced Rojano-Nieto to 10 years, stating that the higher sentence would be “cruel and unusual punishment.”
At the time of the sentencing, Orange County supervisors were calling for the judge’s resignation, and thousands signed petitions condemning his actions.
The appellate court concluded that a 25-year-to-life sentence is not “so disproportionate” to the crime.
“We conclude that Rojano committed a grave and serious offense when he sodomized Jane Doe,” the ruling read. “Therefore, a sentence of 25 years to life is not grossly disproportionate to the crime and does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
The district attorney’s office, which had appealed the sentence, said in a statement that it applauded the decision.
“This was a good day for child victims of brutal sex assaults and the People of Orange County,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A sentence beyond 10 years is “cruel and unusual punishment?” Where did they find this lame-brained judge? He should be removed from the bench and disbarred!
Sodomizing a 3-year-old girl should be a capital offense.
Thursday, February 02, 2017
FIRE THE STATE AND JUSTICE DISSENTERS
Employees of the State Department and the Department of Justice who oppose the policies of the President should resign or be fired
Using the department’s Dissent Channel, more than 900 State Department employees, including senior officials, signed a letter expressing disagreement with President Trump’s executive order on immigration.
The State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual prohibits reprisal or disciplinary action against anyone who uses the Dissent Channel. The manual states that “Officers or employees found to have engaged in retaliation or reprisal against Dissent Channel users, or to have divulged to unauthorized personnel the source or contents of Dissent Channel messages, will be subject to disciplinary action.”
Fine! But that order prohibits only retaliation or discipline meted out within the State Department. It does not, nor can it, prohibit retaliatory measures taken by the Office of the President.
Employees of the Justice Department have also expressed their opposition to Trump’s executive order on immigration. Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General, went so far as to say that Trumps executive order was “unlawful” and that the department should not defend Trump’s immigration ban. Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, was promptly fired by Trump, as she should have been.
I believe that any State Department and Department of Justice employee who opposes the president’s policies should either resign or be fired. Those who oppose their boss’ policies should find employment elsewhere. Adios dickheads and good riddance!
Using the department’s Dissent Channel, more than 900 State Department employees, including senior officials, signed a letter expressing disagreement with President Trump’s executive order on immigration.
The State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual prohibits reprisal or disciplinary action against anyone who uses the Dissent Channel. The manual states that “Officers or employees found to have engaged in retaliation or reprisal against Dissent Channel users, or to have divulged to unauthorized personnel the source or contents of Dissent Channel messages, will be subject to disciplinary action.”
Fine! But that order prohibits only retaliation or discipline meted out within the State Department. It does not, nor can it, prohibit retaliatory measures taken by the Office of the President.
Employees of the Justice Department have also expressed their opposition to Trump’s executive order on immigration. Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General, went so far as to say that Trumps executive order was “unlawful” and that the department should not defend Trump’s immigration ban. Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, was promptly fired by Trump, as she should have been.
I believe that any State Department and Department of Justice employee who opposes the president’s policies should either resign or be fired. Those who oppose their boss’ policies should find employment elsewhere. Adios dickheads and good riddance!
ODD PRISON RIOT
Blame it on Trump
by Bob Walsh
OK, the riot itself might not be that odd but the trigger is sort of unusual. At least part of it is the results of the recent presidential election. Criminals don't like Donald Trump.
Prisoners at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware took five employees hostage on Wednesday. This action led to a lockdown of the entire Delaware prison system. One of the hostages was released but as of this writing the other four are still being held. Building C is under inmate control.
The mess started when the unit officer in Building C radioed for assistance. Other officers responded and ended up being taken hostage. Prisoners later called the News Journal in Wilmington to explain themselves, and make demands. One of those reasons was "Donald Trump, everything that he's doing now. Everything that he did. We know that the institution is going to chance for the worse." (Gee, I didn't know that Donald Trump even knew the Delaware Dept. of Corrections existed, let along had anything to do with it.)
The facility is the largest in Delaware and holds about 2,500 men of minimum, medium and maximum security classifications. It also holds Kent County pre-trial detainees. The Delaware death row was there. The prison is relatively new, having been opened in 1971.
The local fire department is on stand-by as smoke can be seen coming from the building.
by Bob Walsh
OK, the riot itself might not be that odd but the trigger is sort of unusual. At least part of it is the results of the recent presidential election. Criminals don't like Donald Trump.
Prisoners at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware took five employees hostage on Wednesday. This action led to a lockdown of the entire Delaware prison system. One of the hostages was released but as of this writing the other four are still being held. Building C is under inmate control.
The mess started when the unit officer in Building C radioed for assistance. Other officers responded and ended up being taken hostage. Prisoners later called the News Journal in Wilmington to explain themselves, and make demands. One of those reasons was "Donald Trump, everything that he's doing now. Everything that he did. We know that the institution is going to chance for the worse." (Gee, I didn't know that Donald Trump even knew the Delaware Dept. of Corrections existed, let along had anything to do with it.)
The facility is the largest in Delaware and holds about 2,500 men of minimum, medium and maximum security classifications. It also holds Kent County pre-trial detainees. The Delaware death row was there. The prison is relatively new, having been opened in 1971.
The local fire department is on stand-by as smoke can be seen coming from the building.
ENRIQUE, WIPE OUT YOUR BAD HOMBRES OR I’LL SEND IN MY GRINGO MARINES
Donald Trump bluntly tells Mexican president to stop the 'bad hombres down there' or he would send U.S. troops into Mexico
Associated Press
February 1, 2017
President Donald Trump threatened in a phone call with his Mexican counterpart to send U.S. troops to stop 'bad hombres down there' unless the Mexican military does more to control them itself, according to an excerpt of a transcript of the conversation obtained by The Associated Press.
The excerpt of the call did not make clear who exactly Trump considered 'bad hombres,' – drug cartels, immigrants, or both – or the tone and context of the remark, made in a Friday morning phone call between the leaders. It also did not contain Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's response.
Still, the excerpt offers a rare and striking look at how the new president is conducting diplomacy behind closed doors.
Trump's remarks suggest he is using the same tough and blunt talk with world leaders that he used to rally crowds on the campaign trail.
A White House spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
The phone call between the leaders was intended to patch things up between the new president and his ally.
The two have had a series of public spats over Trump's determination to have Mexico pay for the planned border wall, something Mexico steadfastly refuses to agree to.
'You have a bunch of bad hombres down there,' Trump told Pena Nieto, according to the excerpt seen by the AP. 'You aren't doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isn't, so I just might send them down to take care of it.'
A person with access to the official transcript of the phone call provided an excerpt to The Associated Press. The person gave it on condition of anonymity because the administration did not make the details of the call public.
The Mexican website, Aristegui Noticias, on Tuesday published a similar account of phone call, based on the reporting of journalist Dolia Estevez.
The report described Trump as humiliating Pena Nieto in a confrontational conversation.
Mexico's foreign relations department denied that account, saying it 'is based on absolute falsehoods,' and later said the statement also applied to the excerpt provided to AP.
'The assertions that you make about said conversation do not correspond to the reality of it,' the statement said.
'The tone was constructive and it was agreed by the presidents to continue working and that the teams will continue to meet frequently to construct an agreement that is positive for Mexico and for the United States.'
Trump has used the phrase 'bad hombres' before.
In an October presidential debate, he vowed to get rid the U.S. of 'drug lords' and 'bad people.'
'We have some bad hombres here, and we're going to get them out,' he said. The phrase ricocheted on social media with Trump opponents saying he was denigrating immigrants.
Trump's comment was in line with the new administration's bullish stance on foreign policy matters in general, and the president's willingness to break long-standing norms around the globe.
Before his inauguration, Trump spoke to the president of Taiwan, breaking long-standing U.S. policy and irritating China. His temporary ban on refugees and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, aimed at reviewing screening procedures to lessen the threat of extremist attacks, has caused consternation around the world.
But nothing has created the level of bickering as the border wall, a centerpiece of his campaign. Mexico has consistently said it would not pay for the wall and opposes it. Before the phone call, Pena Nieto canceled a planned visit to the United States.
The fresh fight with Mexico last week arose over trade as the White House proposed a 20 percent tax on imports from the key U.S. ally to finance the wall after Pena Nieto abruptly scrapped his Jan. 31 trip to Washington.
The U.S. and Mexico conduct some $1.6 billion a day in cross-border trade, and cooperate on everything from migration to anti-drug enforcement to major environmental issues.
Trump tasked his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner — a real estate executive with no foreign policy experience — with managing the ongoing dispute, according to an administration official with knowledge of the call.
At a press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May last week, Trump described his call with Pena Nieto as 'friendly.'
In a statement, the White House said the two leaders acknowledged their 'clear and very public differences' and agreed to work through the immigration disagreement as part of broader discussions on the relationship between their countries.
Associated Press
February 1, 2017
President Donald Trump threatened in a phone call with his Mexican counterpart to send U.S. troops to stop 'bad hombres down there' unless the Mexican military does more to control them itself, according to an excerpt of a transcript of the conversation obtained by The Associated Press.
The excerpt of the call did not make clear who exactly Trump considered 'bad hombres,' – drug cartels, immigrants, or both – or the tone and context of the remark, made in a Friday morning phone call between the leaders. It also did not contain Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's response.
Still, the excerpt offers a rare and striking look at how the new president is conducting diplomacy behind closed doors.
Trump's remarks suggest he is using the same tough and blunt talk with world leaders that he used to rally crowds on the campaign trail.
A White House spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
The phone call between the leaders was intended to patch things up between the new president and his ally.
The two have had a series of public spats over Trump's determination to have Mexico pay for the planned border wall, something Mexico steadfastly refuses to agree to.
'You have a bunch of bad hombres down there,' Trump told Pena Nieto, according to the excerpt seen by the AP. 'You aren't doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isn't, so I just might send them down to take care of it.'
A person with access to the official transcript of the phone call provided an excerpt to The Associated Press. The person gave it on condition of anonymity because the administration did not make the details of the call public.
The Mexican website, Aristegui Noticias, on Tuesday published a similar account of phone call, based on the reporting of journalist Dolia Estevez.
The report described Trump as humiliating Pena Nieto in a confrontational conversation.
Mexico's foreign relations department denied that account, saying it 'is based on absolute falsehoods,' and later said the statement also applied to the excerpt provided to AP.
'The assertions that you make about said conversation do not correspond to the reality of it,' the statement said.
'The tone was constructive and it was agreed by the presidents to continue working and that the teams will continue to meet frequently to construct an agreement that is positive for Mexico and for the United States.'
Trump has used the phrase 'bad hombres' before.
In an October presidential debate, he vowed to get rid the U.S. of 'drug lords' and 'bad people.'
'We have some bad hombres here, and we're going to get them out,' he said. The phrase ricocheted on social media with Trump opponents saying he was denigrating immigrants.
Trump's comment was in line with the new administration's bullish stance on foreign policy matters in general, and the president's willingness to break long-standing norms around the globe.
Before his inauguration, Trump spoke to the president of Taiwan, breaking long-standing U.S. policy and irritating China. His temporary ban on refugees and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, aimed at reviewing screening procedures to lessen the threat of extremist attacks, has caused consternation around the world.
But nothing has created the level of bickering as the border wall, a centerpiece of his campaign. Mexico has consistently said it would not pay for the wall and opposes it. Before the phone call, Pena Nieto canceled a planned visit to the United States.
The fresh fight with Mexico last week arose over trade as the White House proposed a 20 percent tax on imports from the key U.S. ally to finance the wall after Pena Nieto abruptly scrapped his Jan. 31 trip to Washington.
The U.S. and Mexico conduct some $1.6 billion a day in cross-border trade, and cooperate on everything from migration to anti-drug enforcement to major environmental issues.
Trump tasked his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner — a real estate executive with no foreign policy experience — with managing the ongoing dispute, according to an administration official with knowledge of the call.
At a press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May last week, Trump described his call with Pena Nieto as 'friendly.'
In a statement, the White House said the two leaders acknowledged their 'clear and very public differences' and agreed to work through the immigration disagreement as part of broader discussions on the relationship between their countries.
SANCTUARY STATE
State Senate panel pushes California sanctuary city bill forward
By Jonathan J. Cooper
Associated Press
January 31, 2017
Legislative Democrats in California are advancing a bill that would restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
The Senate Public Safety Committee approved SB54 in a 5-2 party-line vote on Tuesday.
The measure would create a border-to-border sanctuary in the nation's largest state. It's California Democrats' first formal action to resist President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
The Democratic legislation, written by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles, came up for debate less than a week after Trump signed an order threatening to withdraw some federal grants from jurisdictions that bar officials from communicating with federal authorities about someone's immigration status.
Democrats say the legislation is necessary to prevent the fear of deportation in families where some members are living in California without authorization, while representatives from law enforcement groups say cooperation among all levels of law enforcement are necessary to keep people safe.
The legislation goes next to the Senate Appropriations Committee. It's advancing less than a week after Trump signed an order threatening to withdraw some federal grants from sanctuary cities.
While many of California's largest cities — including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento — have so-called sanctuary policies that prohibit police from cooperating with immigration authorities, much of the state does not.
California's legislative leaders have pledged to fight back against Trump's policies they label discriminatory. Republicans say Democrats will harm the state by reflexively fighting Trump.
Some Republicans have criticized the Democratic reaction to Trump's policies, saying bombastic rhetoric and provocative legislation will inflame tensions with the president and harm California.
The debate over sanctuary cities reached a fevered pitch in 2015 after Kate Steinle, 32, was fatally shot in the back Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who was in the country illegally after multiple deportations to his native Mexico. Lopez-Sanchez, who told police the gun fired by accident, had been released from a San Francisco jail despite a request from federal immigration authorities that he be held in custody for possible deportation. Trump often cited the Steinle case during the campaign.
Many other cities and counties in California also refuse to detain immigrants for deportation agents out of legal concerns after a federal court ruled that immigrants can't be held in jail beyond their scheduled release dates. Since then, federal agents have been asking local law enforcement agencies to provide information about immigrants they're seeking for deportation, if not hold them.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For all practical purposes, Kookfornia is already a sanctuary state. The Catholic churches from San Fransicko to L.A. are filled, not with worshipers, but with illegals seeking food and shelter.
And when there are no football games in the L.A. Coliseum, its stands and grounds are filled with illegals being fed by soup kitchens operated by students from the University of Southern California. OK, I made that one up, but it’s probably true.
I have a much better suggestion than a sanctuary state. Return Mexifornia to Mexico!
By Jonathan J. Cooper
Associated Press
January 31, 2017
Legislative Democrats in California are advancing a bill that would restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
The Senate Public Safety Committee approved SB54 in a 5-2 party-line vote on Tuesday.
The measure would create a border-to-border sanctuary in the nation's largest state. It's California Democrats' first formal action to resist President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
The Democratic legislation, written by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles, came up for debate less than a week after Trump signed an order threatening to withdraw some federal grants from jurisdictions that bar officials from communicating with federal authorities about someone's immigration status.
Democrats say the legislation is necessary to prevent the fear of deportation in families where some members are living in California without authorization, while representatives from law enforcement groups say cooperation among all levels of law enforcement are necessary to keep people safe.
The legislation goes next to the Senate Appropriations Committee. It's advancing less than a week after Trump signed an order threatening to withdraw some federal grants from sanctuary cities.
While many of California's largest cities — including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento — have so-called sanctuary policies that prohibit police from cooperating with immigration authorities, much of the state does not.
California's legislative leaders have pledged to fight back against Trump's policies they label discriminatory. Republicans say Democrats will harm the state by reflexively fighting Trump.
Some Republicans have criticized the Democratic reaction to Trump's policies, saying bombastic rhetoric and provocative legislation will inflame tensions with the president and harm California.
The debate over sanctuary cities reached a fevered pitch in 2015 after Kate Steinle, 32, was fatally shot in the back Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who was in the country illegally after multiple deportations to his native Mexico. Lopez-Sanchez, who told police the gun fired by accident, had been released from a San Francisco jail despite a request from federal immigration authorities that he be held in custody for possible deportation. Trump often cited the Steinle case during the campaign.
Many other cities and counties in California also refuse to detain immigrants for deportation agents out of legal concerns after a federal court ruled that immigrants can't be held in jail beyond their scheduled release dates. Since then, federal agents have been asking local law enforcement agencies to provide information about immigrants they're seeking for deportation, if not hold them.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For all practical purposes, Kookfornia is already a sanctuary state. The Catholic churches from San Fransicko to L.A. are filled, not with worshipers, but with illegals seeking food and shelter.
And when there are no football games in the L.A. Coliseum, its stands and grounds are filled with illegals being fed by soup kitchens operated by students from the University of Southern California. OK, I made that one up, but it’s probably true.
I have a much better suggestion than a sanctuary state. Return Mexifornia to Mexico!
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
EVEN A LIAR IS CAPABLE OF TELLING THE TRUTH
by Bob Walsh
I worked inside a prison for 24 years. That led me to the conclusion that, generally speaking, prisoners are lying sacks of shit. That being said they do, on occasion, tell the truth and some of them are more truthful as a rule than some of the staff.
An unnamed female former prisoner has just filed a federal suit against the Warren County (Cincinnati, Ohio) jail, two "guards" and seven other staffers, including several nurses and the medical department administrator. Amidst all of the verbiage which may, or may not, be bullshit there is one undeniable truth and at least a couple of others that are fairly solid.
The woman claims that during her 13-day stay at the jail she was raped by several guards, denied her medication, physically as well as sexually assaulted and generally treated so poorly as to create a cruel and unusual punishment scenario.
The woman had turned herself in on a four year old warrant for obtaining drugs by deception. OK, so she is a druggie. One strike against her, and automatically you take anything she says with a huge grain of salt. The suit says the medical staff refused to give her her anti-seizure medication, leaving her vulnerable and unable to care for herself. That will, I imagine, be reflected in blood tests.
The suit claims the medial staff lied to her lawyer about providing her her medication. Allegedly the prison doctor wrote a specific order for the staff to provide the meds. Allegedly they did not. After continuing a downward spiral she was eventually taken to a real outside hospital. Tests done at the hospital showed semen present in her urine, indicating absolutely that she had sex while at the jail. Allegedly this information was not forwarded by jail medical staff to jail custody staff. It is also alleged the jail took no action to protect her from further sexual assault. She had unexplained blood on her clothing after returning to the jail.
At a rape crisis center, shortly after her release from jail, she identified one of her alleged attackers by name and provided a sketch artist with input for a drawing. It closely resembles the correctional officer named in her suit. She has a bone "shattered" in her shoulder, consistent with her complaint of being held down face down on her bunk and raped.
The jail made no attempt to process the cell as a crime scene and disposed of the mattress that was in the cell at the time of the alleged rape. The FBI did investigate but was unable to come up with any physical evidence. The woman was housed in a psych facility for a period after her release, which isn't going to do much for her credibility but which may be understandable if she is being truthful.
She had sex with someone, maybe voluntarily, maybe not, while in jail. That is indisputable. Any such act is rape under the law, whether or not it was voluntary on her part. She does have a busted up shoulder. Her medical situation was allowed to decline remarkably while in custody. Those are all FACTS.
If they kept enough of that sample to match it to someone it will help her case immeasurably, depending on who it comes back to. Even crazy people have rights, and they are often in more need of protection than those who are not. In addition, if they are doing reasonably well when they are on their meds and they are denied their meds to push them over the edge, something is very wrong.
I am not saying she will win. I am not saying she should win. I am saying she has a case that deserves to be looked at.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob, with all the years you spent as a corrections professional, I can understand the defensiveness in this post. I do not think this woman's attorney would have files this lawsuit without compelling evidence to back it up. While most correctional officers do a good job despite being underpaid in a very stressful job, you will always find some rotten apples in every jail and prison system.
You are correct when you say even a liar is capable of telling the truth.
I worked inside a prison for 24 years. That led me to the conclusion that, generally speaking, prisoners are lying sacks of shit. That being said they do, on occasion, tell the truth and some of them are more truthful as a rule than some of the staff.
An unnamed female former prisoner has just filed a federal suit against the Warren County (Cincinnati, Ohio) jail, two "guards" and seven other staffers, including several nurses and the medical department administrator. Amidst all of the verbiage which may, or may not, be bullshit there is one undeniable truth and at least a couple of others that are fairly solid.
The woman claims that during her 13-day stay at the jail she was raped by several guards, denied her medication, physically as well as sexually assaulted and generally treated so poorly as to create a cruel and unusual punishment scenario.
The woman had turned herself in on a four year old warrant for obtaining drugs by deception. OK, so she is a druggie. One strike against her, and automatically you take anything she says with a huge grain of salt. The suit says the medical staff refused to give her her anti-seizure medication, leaving her vulnerable and unable to care for herself. That will, I imagine, be reflected in blood tests.
The suit claims the medial staff lied to her lawyer about providing her her medication. Allegedly the prison doctor wrote a specific order for the staff to provide the meds. Allegedly they did not. After continuing a downward spiral she was eventually taken to a real outside hospital. Tests done at the hospital showed semen present in her urine, indicating absolutely that she had sex while at the jail. Allegedly this information was not forwarded by jail medical staff to jail custody staff. It is also alleged the jail took no action to protect her from further sexual assault. She had unexplained blood on her clothing after returning to the jail.
At a rape crisis center, shortly after her release from jail, she identified one of her alleged attackers by name and provided a sketch artist with input for a drawing. It closely resembles the correctional officer named in her suit. She has a bone "shattered" in her shoulder, consistent with her complaint of being held down face down on her bunk and raped.
The jail made no attempt to process the cell as a crime scene and disposed of the mattress that was in the cell at the time of the alleged rape. The FBI did investigate but was unable to come up with any physical evidence. The woman was housed in a psych facility for a period after her release, which isn't going to do much for her credibility but which may be understandable if she is being truthful.
She had sex with someone, maybe voluntarily, maybe not, while in jail. That is indisputable. Any such act is rape under the law, whether or not it was voluntary on her part. She does have a busted up shoulder. Her medical situation was allowed to decline remarkably while in custody. Those are all FACTS.
If they kept enough of that sample to match it to someone it will help her case immeasurably, depending on who it comes back to. Even crazy people have rights, and they are often in more need of protection than those who are not. In addition, if they are doing reasonably well when they are on their meds and they are denied their meds to push them over the edge, something is very wrong.
I am not saying she will win. I am not saying she should win. I am saying she has a case that deserves to be looked at.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob, with all the years you spent as a corrections professional, I can understand the defensiveness in this post. I do not think this woman's attorney would have files this lawsuit without compelling evidence to back it up. While most correctional officers do a good job despite being underpaid in a very stressful job, you will always find some rotten apples in every jail and prison system.
You are correct when you say even a liar is capable of telling the truth.
THE STARS CAME OUT SUNDAY NIGHT ….. TO EXCORIATE TRUMP
The Hollywood stars and the street demonstrators are really more interested in excoriating Trump than they are in the immigration ban
At Sunday night’s Hollywood Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards ceremony, the presenters and almost all the winners excoriated President Trump for his executive order on immigration.
The award winners came up and gave a cursory thanks before letting loose with a tirade of condemnations of Trump for his immigration ban.
If you’re a Trump supporter, this is nothing to let your bowels get in an uproar about. All of these sore losers were ardent supporters of Hillary Clinton, and some of them got out and campaigned for her.
I think they’re more interested in excoriating Trump than in the immigration ban. These Hollywood liberals all live in multi-bedroom dwellings. They have plenty of room to take in one or two refugee families. If they’re so concerned about immigrants, then why don’t they give them a place to live in their homes?
As for those street demonstrations, from what I’ve seen in still pictures and on the TV news broadcasts, most of the protestors are young college-aged rabble rousers. They’ve probably been egged on by their college professors. Like the Hollywood phonies, this rabble is much more interested in bashing Trump than they are about immigration. When the immigration furor dies down, you will find the very same people demonstrating against another one of Trump’s actions.
Few of the Hollywood stars and street demonstrators have ever served their country by risking their lives as members of the military, or as police officers and firefighters. At most, some of them have served in the Peace Corps or Teacher Corps, but that is a far cry from serving in the military or law enforcement. Instead, they have been left-wing activists during their college and post-college years. And for these anti-Trumpites, the new president is an easy target.
At Sunday night’s Hollywood Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards ceremony, the presenters and almost all the winners excoriated President Trump for his executive order on immigration.
The award winners came up and gave a cursory thanks before letting loose with a tirade of condemnations of Trump for his immigration ban.
If you’re a Trump supporter, this is nothing to let your bowels get in an uproar about. All of these sore losers were ardent supporters of Hillary Clinton, and some of them got out and campaigned for her.
I think they’re more interested in excoriating Trump than in the immigration ban. These Hollywood liberals all live in multi-bedroom dwellings. They have plenty of room to take in one or two refugee families. If they’re so concerned about immigrants, then why don’t they give them a place to live in their homes?
As for those street demonstrations, from what I’ve seen in still pictures and on the TV news broadcasts, most of the protestors are young college-aged rabble rousers. They’ve probably been egged on by their college professors. Like the Hollywood phonies, this rabble is much more interested in bashing Trump than they are about immigration. When the immigration furor dies down, you will find the very same people demonstrating against another one of Trump’s actions.
Few of the Hollywood stars and street demonstrators have ever served their country by risking their lives as members of the military, or as police officers and firefighters. At most, some of them have served in the Peace Corps or Teacher Corps, but that is a far cry from serving in the military or law enforcement. Instead, they have been left-wing activists during their college and post-college years. And for these anti-Trumpites, the new president is an easy target.
WHOSE OX IS GORED?
by Bob Walsh
I admit I could be wrong on the basic premise of this thing. I was under the distinct impression that the German government did NOT have the power of eminent domain. That's what makes this interesting.
The crux of the matter is a home in Austria owned by Gerlinde Pommer. The house is quite ordinary other than the fact it is where Adolph Hitler grew up. The government wants the house. Ms. Pommer does not want to sell. The owner is going to the high court to prevent the government from seizing the property. They have tried to buy it. Ms. Pommer has declined to sell.
The small news blurb I read does not say why the government is so dead-set on taking the house. It seems like the Constitutional Court of Austria is going to make the decision.
I admit I could be wrong on the basic premise of this thing. I was under the distinct impression that the German government did NOT have the power of eminent domain. That's what makes this interesting.
The crux of the matter is a home in Austria owned by Gerlinde Pommer. The house is quite ordinary other than the fact it is where Adolph Hitler grew up. The government wants the house. Ms. Pommer does not want to sell. The owner is going to the high court to prevent the government from seizing the property. They have tried to buy it. Ms. Pommer has declined to sell.
The small news blurb I read does not say why the government is so dead-set on taking the house. It seems like the Constitutional Court of Austria is going to make the decision.
MEMORANDUM
by Bob Walsh
FROM: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO: ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL SALLY YATES
RE: YOU'RE FIRED, ASSHOLE
As you probably know President Trump's nominee for the Attorney General is still in the confirmation process so the Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama left-over, was in charge. She issued a directive yesterday to staff to refuse to defend the Trump executive order regarding immigration in court. So Trump fired her ass.
Now that may or may not be a big deal. She wasn't going to have a job long anyway. There may (or may not) be a significant difference for political appointees if they resign (as expected and is normal) or they get sacked for being an obstructive and incompetent asshole.
At any rate Ms. Yates is likely to find out what, if any, fallout there may be. I suspect it may be small as a great many Trump haters will be happy to throw attagirls and warm-fuzzies in her direction for having the balls to stand up to what they believe is an evil and horrible man. That point of view of course totally ignores the fact that lawyers are whores. They are supposed to be whores. They do a job, take a position, that many believe to be grotesque and disgusting for money.
So, fuck her. Maybe CAIR will find a job for her, as the fifth wife of some Imam somewhere in Buttcrack, New Jersey.
FROM: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO: ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL SALLY YATES
RE: YOU'RE FIRED, ASSHOLE
As you probably know President Trump's nominee for the Attorney General is still in the confirmation process so the Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama left-over, was in charge. She issued a directive yesterday to staff to refuse to defend the Trump executive order regarding immigration in court. So Trump fired her ass.
Now that may or may not be a big deal. She wasn't going to have a job long anyway. There may (or may not) be a significant difference for political appointees if they resign (as expected and is normal) or they get sacked for being an obstructive and incompetent asshole.
At any rate Ms. Yates is likely to find out what, if any, fallout there may be. I suspect it may be small as a great many Trump haters will be happy to throw attagirls and warm-fuzzies in her direction for having the balls to stand up to what they believe is an evil and horrible man. That point of view of course totally ignores the fact that lawyers are whores. They are supposed to be whores. They do a job, take a position, that many believe to be grotesque and disgusting for money.
So, fuck her. Maybe CAIR will find a job for her, as the fifth wife of some Imam somewhere in Buttcrack, New Jersey.
KEEP THAT PLEDGE
Israel hawks tell Trump to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem – and do it SECRETLY – as pressure builds to deliver on campaign promise
By Davis Martosko
Daily Mail
January 31, 2017
A trio of high-profile Israel hawks from both sides of the political aisle said Tuesday that the Trump administration should immediately relocate the U.S. embassy in the Jewish state from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – but do it stealthily.
'You can move the embassy by changing the name-plate on the consulate, and then build a permanent embassy in due course,' former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.
Bolton agreed that just as 'Air Force One' is a designation that applies to whichever airplane carries the President of the United State, any U.S.-owned building in a world capital cam be designated an 'embassy' if an ambassador lives and works there.
'The sooner they do it the better,' Bolton said.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told DailyMail.com that the State Department should 'do it – do it quickly, do it boldly. In fact, my advice to them is don't announce you're going to do it.'
'Do it and announce you just did it,' said Huckabee.
'You do it, and you just say, "Yesterday we moved the embassy." ... It would be totally unnecessary and counterproductive to say, "We're going to start laying a building cornerstone," and it just creates an environment for tension that's unnecessary.'
'Change the nameplate on the building over by the prime minister's home from "consulate" to "embassy," he advised.
'And announce that you did it last night, and the ambassador has taken up residence there.'
DailyMail.com interviewed the two Republicans before a luncheon panel hosted by the Gatestone Institute, a conservative think tank that focuses on national security and defense issues.
Former Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of six speakers at the event, said moving the embassy as President Donald Trump has pledged to 'really must happen. And the sooner it happens the better.'
Lieberman, who ran for vice president with Al Gore in 2000, was a staunch Israel backer during his 24 years in the U.S. Senate.
He warned the White House on Tuesday not to listen to advisers who hold 'a kind of conventional wisdom about foreign policy.'
In 1990 Congress passed a resolution declaring: 'Jerusalem is and should remain the capital of the State of Israel.'
Lieberman co-sponsored the Jerusalem Embassy Act five years later along with then-Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi. The legislation threatened the State Department with the loss of half its operating funds for diplomatic missions until the U.S. flag was raised above an embassy in Jerusalem.
'Unfortunately, the Clinton administration said they wouldn't sign it unless we put a presidential waiver in,' Lieberman recalled Tuesday of the bill that passed with an overwhelming majority.
'And President Clinton waived it. And President Bush waived it. And President Obama waived it. And it's an outrage really, when you think about it.'
Waivers under the law must be renewed every six months; former president Barack Obama issued his last such order on December 1, 2016, saying he acted 'in order to protect the national security interests of the United States.'
Lieberman said Tuesday that America's embassy in Tel Aviv is the only one in the world that does not reside in a host country's declared capital city.
He brushed off concerns about international uproar if the White House were to make a change.
'If you don't do that based on the fear of protest, we're not the principal superpower that America is supposed to be,' Lieberman said to applause.
The Trump administration has not said whether it will continue the practice of the three most recent U.S. presidents – or if he will make the same sort of dramatic policy departure that has characterized his first seven full days in office.
But his pick to head the U.S. mission in Israel – David Friedman, a lawyer who has advocated to embassy move for decades – was seen as a signal that changes are coming.
'I intend to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region,' Friedman said in the Trump transition press release announcing his nomination, 'and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem.'
Before Tuesday's event, DailyMail.com asked Huckabee if he had any inside knowledge about Trump's plans and how long they might take to unfold.
'If I tell you that,' he joked, 'I will have to have you killed on the street – shortly after this luncheon.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that the administration is 'at the very beginning stages of even discussing the subject.'
Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said last month during a Hanukkah party at the Washington, D.C. embassy that moving the U.S. diplomatic mission would be a 'great step forward to peace.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Trump at the White House on February 15, both government's announced on Monday.
By Davis Martosko
Daily Mail
January 31, 2017
A trio of high-profile Israel hawks from both sides of the political aisle said Tuesday that the Trump administration should immediately relocate the U.S. embassy in the Jewish state from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – but do it stealthily.
'You can move the embassy by changing the name-plate on the consulate, and then build a permanent embassy in due course,' former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.
Bolton agreed that just as 'Air Force One' is a designation that applies to whichever airplane carries the President of the United State, any U.S.-owned building in a world capital cam be designated an 'embassy' if an ambassador lives and works there.
'The sooner they do it the better,' Bolton said.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told DailyMail.com that the State Department should 'do it – do it quickly, do it boldly. In fact, my advice to them is don't announce you're going to do it.'
'Do it and announce you just did it,' said Huckabee.
'You do it, and you just say, "Yesterday we moved the embassy." ... It would be totally unnecessary and counterproductive to say, "We're going to start laying a building cornerstone," and it just creates an environment for tension that's unnecessary.'
'Change the nameplate on the building over by the prime minister's home from "consulate" to "embassy," he advised.
'And announce that you did it last night, and the ambassador has taken up residence there.'
DailyMail.com interviewed the two Republicans before a luncheon panel hosted by the Gatestone Institute, a conservative think tank that focuses on national security and defense issues.
Former Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of six speakers at the event, said moving the embassy as President Donald Trump has pledged to 'really must happen. And the sooner it happens the better.'
Lieberman, who ran for vice president with Al Gore in 2000, was a staunch Israel backer during his 24 years in the U.S. Senate.
He warned the White House on Tuesday not to listen to advisers who hold 'a kind of conventional wisdom about foreign policy.'
In 1990 Congress passed a resolution declaring: 'Jerusalem is and should remain the capital of the State of Israel.'
Lieberman co-sponsored the Jerusalem Embassy Act five years later along with then-Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi. The legislation threatened the State Department with the loss of half its operating funds for diplomatic missions until the U.S. flag was raised above an embassy in Jerusalem.
'Unfortunately, the Clinton administration said they wouldn't sign it unless we put a presidential waiver in,' Lieberman recalled Tuesday of the bill that passed with an overwhelming majority.
'And President Clinton waived it. And President Bush waived it. And President Obama waived it. And it's an outrage really, when you think about it.'
Waivers under the law must be renewed every six months; former president Barack Obama issued his last such order on December 1, 2016, saying he acted 'in order to protect the national security interests of the United States.'
Lieberman said Tuesday that America's embassy in Tel Aviv is the only one in the world that does not reside in a host country's declared capital city.
He brushed off concerns about international uproar if the White House were to make a change.
'If you don't do that based on the fear of protest, we're not the principal superpower that America is supposed to be,' Lieberman said to applause.
The Trump administration has not said whether it will continue the practice of the three most recent U.S. presidents – or if he will make the same sort of dramatic policy departure that has characterized his first seven full days in office.
But his pick to head the U.S. mission in Israel – David Friedman, a lawyer who has advocated to embassy move for decades – was seen as a signal that changes are coming.
'I intend to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region,' Friedman said in the Trump transition press release announcing his nomination, 'and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem.'
Before Tuesday's event, DailyMail.com asked Huckabee if he had any inside knowledge about Trump's plans and how long they might take to unfold.
'If I tell you that,' he joked, 'I will have to have you killed on the street – shortly after this luncheon.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that the administration is 'at the very beginning stages of even discussing the subject.'
Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said last month during a Hanukkah party at the Washington, D.C. embassy that moving the U.S. diplomatic mission would be a 'great step forward to peace.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Trump at the White House on February 15, both government's announced on Monday.
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