The “UN Police” MRAP That Wasn’t

The UN invades your local auto body shop.
I fly the Union flag, I like countries that win.
Wingnuts • Views: 46,541

So a bad photoshop has been making the rounds on the internet:

Here is the original photo:

The photo was uploaded to Facebook by a John S Cinque, apparently to protest his local police. This photo was shared by a group on Facebook called the “Virginia Militia,” which has a passion for uploading pictures of armored vehicles from around the country to spread fear and hatred of the US and local governments. From there, it was photoshopped by persons unknown to spread fear and hatred of the UN.

The doctored image was brought to Mr. Cinque’s attention on Facebook, and he had this to say:

Mike yeah I just saw it on another persons thread people need to not do this kind of stuff but then again there are agent’s among us who try and pump out this information and try to discredit people and try to bury the truth I am sure this is a case in point

If you see the picture posted feel free to tag me in it so I can set the record straight

h/t Alouette and Gus.

Jump to bottom

232 comments
1 Blue Fielder  Jun 27, 2014 8:21:15pm
but then again there are agent’s among us who try and pump out this information and try to discredit people and try to bury the truth I am sure this is a case in point

Trnaslation: one of us made us look stoopid so clearly they’re TEH SEKRIT LIBRULGUMMINT PLANTZ!!!111ELEVENTY

‘Twas e’er thus.

2 Shazam  Jun 27, 2014 8:32:13pm
John, did you say you took this at a local bike shop? It’s at Midway towing in North Branford. What is it exactly, anyway? I’ve driven by it several times, today.

Randall you are correct with the picture location it is a m wrap mine resistant personnel carrier probably going to a local police department the problem today is the fact that far too many police department look at the people they serve and I do mean all of them as a threat as a criminal as a terrorist and I do not like this 1 bit

It’s “probably” going to a local police department, he says, which wouldn’t anything out of the ordinary. It’s called the “DoD Excess Property Program,” or “1033 Program,” carried out by the DLA Disposition Services

3 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 8:41:10pm

“… there are agent’s among us who try and pump out this information and try to discredit people and try to bury the truth I am sure this is a case in point…

What?

4 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 8:44:49pm
5 Charles Johnson  Jun 27, 2014 8:45:15pm

Good work! Promoted.

6 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 8:45:29pm

The actual location is Midway Auto Body of North Branford, CT. which I found in another forum.

7 EPR-radar  Jun 27, 2014 8:46:49pm

re: #4 Gus

So that’s where one of The Watcher’s missing eyes ended up.

8 Lidane  Jun 27, 2014 8:46:57pm

re: #3 Gus

“… there are agent’s among us who try and pump out this information and try to discredit people and try to bury the truth I am sure this is a case in point…

What?

9 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 8:47:57pm

re: #8 Lidane

[Embedded image]

Cracks me up how this guy’s trying to say it was done to discredit them by secret government agents. Oy.

10 b_sharp  Jun 27, 2014 8:53:03pm

re: #2 Shazam

It’s “probably” going to a local police department, he says, which wouldn’t anything out of the ordinary. It’s called the “DoD Excess Property Program,” or “1033 Program,” carried out by the DLA Disposition Services

Add this to the main story.

11 Charles Johnson  Jun 27, 2014 8:54:01pm
12 Feline Fearless Leader  Jun 27, 2014 9:09:31pm

Congrats Gus!

Here’s a couple of plane photos for you. ;)

Bristol F.2B

Left Profile

13 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 9:09:40pm

Somebody Tweet this to TCOT and TGDN. I would but don’t want to deal with a potential flood of derp.

14 Amory Blaine  Jun 27, 2014 9:10:09pm

The letters are all crooked. No skills.

15 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 9:12:30pm

And the reason it’s at a body shop? White base paint and will get an overcoat for the local or regional PD SWAT.

16 Shazam  Jun 27, 2014 9:18:06pm

re: #15 Gus

You mean FEMA Population Control?

17 BeachDem  Jun 27, 2014 9:19:02pm

My question is this: is there a single one among these morons who understands that creating plural nouns requires merely adding an “s” and not an apostrophe? And that an apostrophe is needed to create a possessive?

(case in point, his (partial) sentence: I just saw it on another persons thread people need to not do this kind of stuff but then again there are agent’s among us…

Argghh. (And we won’t even talk about the punctuation.)

18 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 9:22:03pm

Looks like a Caiman 6x6 MRAP BAE Systems Personnel carrier

19 philosophus invidius  Jun 27, 2014 9:29:42pm

re: #14 Amory Blaine

The letters are all crooked. No skills.

I doubt Photoshop was involved. More like MS Paint.

20 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 9:32:08pm

21 blueraven  Jun 27, 2014 9:35:58pm

comments from that FB page

Charles Ricko: These vehicles are sold and transported worldwide for numerous countries and agencies. Seeing one at a body shop doesn’t mean much.

Charles Ricko: In fact, here’s mine. It’s not UN or Police owned. It’s a private security rig.private security rig

22 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 9:36:48pm

Boom!

23 GlutenFreeJesus  Jun 27, 2014 10:03:06pm

Fake but accurate!

24 Varek Raith  Jun 27, 2014 10:04:51pm

re: #22 Gus

[Embedded content]

Boom!

For reals?
XD

25 Gus  Jun 27, 2014 10:06:12pm

re: #24 Varek Raith

For reals?
XD

That’s what the man says. I know EFF has been making some seriously weird collaborations.

26 Varek Raith  Jun 27, 2014 10:22:47pm

re: #25 Gus

That’s what the man says. I know EFF has been making some seriously weird collaborations.

They sure got loony.
The hell…

27 Zamb  Jun 27, 2014 11:22:30pm

re: #23 GlutenFreeJesus

Fake but accurate!

The mantra of my “politically active” facebook friends.

28 Rightwingconspirator  Jun 27, 2014 11:54:02pm

Fascinating overlap between those who claim the UN can roll in here and take away our guns based on some treaty provision, but totally scoff at the UN’s ability to peace keep anywhere in the world. Blue hats, angry letters etc.

29 Lidane  Jun 28, 2014 12:18:56am
30 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 12:49:17am

“Un” is a French article. The US is being overrun by the French weapons police! Save yourselves and your Freedom fries!

31 RadicalModerate  Jun 28, 2014 2:36:34am

Today is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.

The BBC is doing an “as it happened” newsfeed on their website:

1914 Live: History retold as breaking news

BBC News is used to reporting breaking news around the world. It’s what we do, part of the reason for our very existence. So if there were to be an assassination of a prominent European leader today, we would want to be there, reporting live. And audiences expect to consume breaking news in a live blog environment which is why we wanted to experiment with revealing history in this way.

This was the idea behind 1914 Live as the BBC’s First World War season reaches the first significant anniversary.

We would use all the techniques of breaking news in 2014 to report on events from Sarajevo 100 years ago, particularly the BBC’s Live format used to great effect during the World Cup and Queen’s Baton Relay. And we would do it by using BBC correspondents in their familiar roles. Watch the trailer here.

“Live” feed here:

32 Timothy Watson  Jun 28, 2014 3:15:36am

re: #31 RadicalModerate

Today is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.

The BBC is doing an “as it happened” newsfeed on their website:

1914 Live: History retold as breaking news

“Live” feed here:

Meanwhile, in the United States, it would be a one-line comment on the news followed by kitteh videos!

33 William of Orange  Jun 28, 2014 3:24:13am

Hilarious ad with a very serious message!

(And some wobbly sausage to go with it…)

34 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 3:28:28am

re: #33 William of Orange

Ha!

35 Lidane  Jun 28, 2014 3:34:03am

Real Time host Bill Maher and his panel weighed in on the contentious GOP Senate runoff in Mississippi, with Maher giving credit to African-American Democratic voters for swinging the race towards incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS).

“The reason they did was not because Thad Cochran is a great champion of Black people,” Maher said. “It’s because they’re 36 percent of the vote, and they will never elect a Democrat, so they might as well vote for the least sh*tty choice on the Republican side.”

36 Dr Lizardo  Jun 28, 2014 3:46:05am

For you Lizard history buffs, the bullet that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand 100 years ago today is on display as a museum exhibit in Konopiště Castle near the town of Benešov here in the Czech Republic.

It’s called “The bullet that started the First World War.”

37 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 3:49:09am

re: #36 Dr Lizardo

For you Lizard history buffs, the bullet that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand 100 years ago today is on display as a museum exhibit in Konopiště Castle near the town of Benešov here in the Czech Republic.

It’s called “The bullet that started the First World War.”

So, it’s all reducible to one bullet. That means that if I manage to find layers! in the bullet, there was no WWI. ///

38 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 4:14:42am

re: #37 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

So, it’s all reducible to one bullet. That means that if I manage to find layers! in the bullet, there was no WWI. ///

I wanted to pull out a counter argument to this, but Schrödinger’s cat is sleeping on top of the file folder containing it.

39 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 4:30:35am

re: #18 Gus

Looks like a Caiman 6x6 MRAP BAE Systems Personnel carrier

[Embedded image]

[Embedded image]

Well, they probably really do need those in Floriduh.

Somehow, I think a lot of these CT people just weren’t held enough when they were babies.

40 wheat-dogghazi  Jun 28, 2014 4:30:48am

re: #36 Dr Lizardo

For you Lizard history buffs, the bullet that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand 100 years ago today is on display as a museum exhibit in Konopiště Castle near the town of Benešov here in the Czech Republic.

It’s called “The bullet that started the First World War.”

Guns don’t kill. Bullets do.

41 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 4:36:43am

re: #22 Gus

[Embedded content]

Boom!

Conspiracies make strange bedfellows, don’t they?

42 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 4:37:41am

re: #38 Dark_Falcon

I wanted to pull out a counter argument to this, but Schrödinger’s cat is sleeping on top of the file folder containing it.

Hey, let me ask you a question in advance of a ruling.

The Supreme Court is probably going to rule against the ability of public sector unions to collect fees from non-union members, with the argument that maybe some of those members value their salaries above pensions, or disagree with the union’s request for more staff and/or shorter hours per person.

This ruling is going to get celebrated by a lot of ‘conservatives’ because it’ll severely financially impact a lot of public-sector unions.

However, it sets up the precedent that the speech of an individual may not be represented fairly by a group even if that group claims that they are acting in the interests of those individuals. One possible outcome of this is that corporations would be more restricted in their ‘speech’, through a number of different routes: the employees obviously do not all agree with the corporation’s donations and statements, but neither do shareholders. The shareholders may have voluntarily paid money for the shares, but may still object to the ‘speech’ of the corporation and have no recourse other than indirectly voting in elections for officers, once a year. This means that recourse is post-facto, and so it wouldn’t be sufficient according to the reasoning attached to this case.

Do you think that corporations should have greater freedom in ‘speech’ (the reason I’m putting in quotes is that it basically means ‘money funneled to special interest groups or politicians’ in this context) than unions, and if so, why?

43 Bulworth  Jun 28, 2014 4:42:15am

LETS MAKE THIS GO VIRAL!!!!!!!!

Oh, wait, maybe it’s not real, uh, FALSE FLAG!! AGENTS!!!!!

44 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 4:45:28am

re: #42 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I know you asked that of DF, but anyone would be naive to think that this particular SC would actually see unions and corps as the same kind of “collective” with the same kind of “free speech rights”.

What would be fair is that the person not joining a union would not have the rights that the union fought for and won. After all, even when you buy a company’s product, you don’t have voting rights in it.

45 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 4:49:00am

re: #43 Bulworth

LETS MAKE THIS GO VIRAL!!!!!!!!

Oh, wait, maybe it’s not real, uh, FALSE FLAG!! AGENTS!!!!!

A reverse catch-22 :)

46 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 4:54:17am

re: #25 Gus

That’s what the man says. I know EFF has been making some seriously weird collaborations.

That article was a thing of beauty.

Of course, both EFF and the TP are all for making as much money as you can when you can from what you can and the hell with the truth.

47 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 4:58:46am

Telling it like it is, cont.

Obama: Congress obstructs, so I act alone

hosted.ap.org

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he’ll keep acting on his own as long as congressional Republicans block his economic agenda.

“In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he has moved to attract jobs, raise workers’ wages and help students pay off loans because Republican obstructionism is keeping the system rigged against the middle class. He says if it makes Republicans in Congress mad that he’s trying to help people, they can join him so they can work together.” More

48 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 5:06:27am

Die Linke, a quasi-popular far left German party run by former Communist DDR functionaries, wanted to present a book about the “Ukrainian neo-Nazis” at the Maidan.

But - surprise, surprise! - it turned out that one of its 2 co-authors, Alexey Kochetkov, used to be a member of a Russian neo-Nazi party RNE. The presentation was scrapped. This time.

A good example of how the illiberals - left or right - flock together.

49 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 5:20:40am

50 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 5:28:29am

re: #42 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

re: #44 Justanotherhuman

Could you two please check on that case? I thought it had already been decided.

51 Thorzdad  Jun 28, 2014 5:39:24am

Of course, the “It’s Photoshopped” argument will be turned upside down by the conspiracy nuts, who will say that it’s the image without the UN markings that has been Photoshopped. They really, really want to be angry 24-7, and no amount of reality is going to keep them from their goal.

52 Timothy Watson  Jun 28, 2014 5:40:01am

re: #50 Dark_Falcon

Could you two please check on that case? I thought it had already been decided.

Not until Monday.

53 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 5:47:13am

re: #50 Dark_Falcon

Could you two please check on that case? I thought it had already been decided.

Why didn’t you check, instead of asking me to?

54 Maxwell Not So Smart  Jun 28, 2014 6:07:26am

Vehicles like the one in the photo are a sort of self fulfilled prophecy. First you get wing-nuts who load up with overpowered firearms that hate/fear the police (or name agency that protects people from crazies with too many firearms and a lack of common sense). Then you get police that need vehicles like these to protect themselves from those wing-nuts when they flip out.

55 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 6:23:19am

re: #54 Maxwell Not So Smart

Vehicles like the one in the photo are a sort of self fulfilled prophecy. First you get wing-nuts who load up with overpowered firearms that hate/fear the police (or name agency that protects people from crazies with too many firearms and a lack of common sense). Then you get police that need vehicles like these to protect themselves from those wing-nuts when they flip out.

Which isn’t actually how they got the vehicles. They got them in two ways: as part of the bullshit ‘war on drugs’ which does nothing but harvest crops of drug dealers and gangsters, not in the least bit addressing the circumstances they germinate from. Or they get them from part of the bullshit ‘war on terror’. The government handed out huge money for anti-terrorism shit after 9/11, and it wasn’t spent wisely. It wasn’t even allowed to be spent, most of the time, on stuff like increased manpower, it had to buy something, training or vehicles, right then.

The militarization of the police was not because of the wingnuts.

56 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 6:31:39am

re: #53 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Why didn’t you check, instead of asking me to?

Because I don’t like checking and doing research on Saturday mornings, Obdi. It’s a large part of my job and I do it at home as well so that I have enough sales leads as well. So its a work type activity for me, which I don’t want to do while I rest this morning.

57 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 6:41:17am

re: #55 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Which isn’t actually how they got the vehicles. They got them in two ways: as part of the bullshit ‘war on drugs’ which does nothing but harvest crops of drug dealers and gangsters, not in the least bit addressing the circumstances they germinate from. Or they get them from part of the bullshit ‘war on terror’. The government handed out huge money for anti-terrorism shit after 9/11, and it wasn’t spent wisely. It wasn’t even allowed to be spent, most of the time, on stuff like increased manpower, it had to buy something, training or vehicles, right then.

The militarization of the police was not because of the wingnuts.

Actually, Obdi, the MRAPs showing up in police and sheriffs departments are the result of the victory over IEDs the US posted in the Iraq war.

After the MRAP was prototyped and proved survivable against the great majority of IEDs, the vehicle type was put into mass production from multiple contractors. It was the kind of “lot’s of ‘em and fast, but still make ‘em right” production that reminds one of Us production in World War II. The upshot of it was that the US military got the MRAPS it needed, but since the forces are being reduced in size many MRAPs are surplus to requirements.

The DoD can hand surplus MRAPs over to police or sheriff’s departments at no cost to the law enforcement agency, whereas if the police or sheriff wanted a lesser armored and smaller SWAT van it would cost them thousands. And even the structure and shape of currently offered armored police vehicles has changed as builders have used data from Iraq and Afghanistan to create new, better protected, and more capable designs.

58 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 6:42:05am

re: #55 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Which isn’t actually how they got the vehicles. They got them in two ways: as part of the bullshit ‘war on drugs’ which does nothing but harvest crops of drug dealers and gangsters, not in the least bit addressing the circumstances they germinate from. Or they get them from part of the bullshit ‘war on terror’. The government handed out huge money for anti-terrorism shit after 9/11, and it wasn’t spent wisely. It wasn’t even allowed to be spent, most of the time, on stuff like increased manpower, it had to buy something, training or vehicles, right then.

The militarization of the police was not because of the wingnuts.

Please explain why you think the “war on drugs” is “bullshit”? And what “circumstances” do you think drug dealers and gangsters come from? Aside from the myth that drug traffickers and dealers are somehow from the lower classes who have no other choices in life, quite the opposite is more often true. It always takes money to make money. If you want to make an argument that the govt itself uses tax dollars to “set up” drug deals or buy them in sting operations, that’s an entirely different matter.

There are plenty of opportunists out there who would make huge profits from legalizing all sorts of banned substances as we are seeing from the legalization of pot. Get ready for the marijuana millionaires.

59 wrenchwench  Jun 28, 2014 6:48:17am

re: #2 Shazam

It’s “probably” going to a local police department, he says, which wouldn’t anything out of the ordinary. It’s called the “DoD Excess Property Program,” or “1033 Program,” carried out by the DLA Disposition Services

Located in Battle Creek, eh? So just send in 5 boxtops from your favorite cereal….

Seriously though, here’s an article from earlier this week about these vehicles being GIVEN (in many cases) to municipalities.

The Pentagon’s 1033 Program from which the Law Enforcement Support Office acquires its gear for distribution, has exploded since Sept. 11, under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The program, which in addition to guns and armored personnel carriers has donated helicopters and grenade launchers to police departments, gave away a record $500 million in gear in fiscal year 2011, and $449 million in 2013, according to records. The Pentagon temporarily halted the program in 2012, after an investigation by the Arizona Republic revealed that a sheriff’s office had been giving gear to nonpolice agencies and had planned to sell some at auction.

The Sept. 11 attacks opened another funding pipeline through Department of Homeland Security anti-terrorism grants. A 2011 investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting found that the department since 2001 has given out more than $37 billion to law enforcement, much of which was spent on military-grade weaponry.

60 AntonSirius  Jun 28, 2014 6:58:58am

re: #58 Justanotherhuman

Please explain why you think the “war on drugs” is “bullshit”?

I think the burden of evidence is on you to explain why the War On (Some) Drugs is not “bullshit”.

61 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Jun 28, 2014 6:59:51am

The tailspin: news agencies and networks get lazy and start printing things they pick up from the Internet without checking or verifying them.

The stories turn out to be fakes, hoaxes or distortions, which leads people to mistrust news agencies and networks and to rely even more on unsubstantiated Internet reports…

62 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 7:04:16am

re: #58 Justanotherhuman

Please explain why you think the “war on drugs” is “bullshit”? And what “circumstances” do you think drug dealers and gangsters come from?

The war on drugs is bullshit because we shouldn’t criminalize use or addiction, and mostly shouldn’t criminalize sale. The very worst of hard drugs, like PCP, shouldn’t be sellable but they should still be dealt with as a medical, not a legal problem for the users.

The circumstances that breed drug dealers and gangsters are groups who are cut off or inhibited from mainstream achievement, or people who are recruited into that lifestyle because something about it appeals to them.

side from the myth that drug traffickers and dealers are somehow from the lower classes who have no other choices in life, quite the opposite is more often true.

It depends what drug you’re talking about. Low-level street dealers make a pittance in wages. The drug traffickers, the big guys, often do start from money, or from legacy in a crime family, but sometimes start up from small groups or individuals, too. Pablo Escabar started from nothing, and Frank Lucas started low down, too.

There’s plenty of middle-class drug dealers, and middle-class gangsters, but they don’t tend to be the targets of the ‘war on drugs’.

There are plenty of opportunists out there who would make huge profits from legalizing all sorts of banned substances as we are seeing from the legalization of pot. Get ready for the marijuana millionaires.

Not sure what this has to do with anything I said.

63 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 7:08:47am

re: #57 Dark_Falcon

Actually, Obdi, the MRAPs showing up in police and sheriffs departments are the result of the victory over IEDs the US posted in the Iraq war.

I meant the general militarization of the police, and who/what it was in response to.

64 AntonSirius  Jun 28, 2014 7:13:29am

Negative consequences of the War on Drugs:

- explosion in the prison population
- militarization of the police
- enrichment of organized crime
- complete failure to actually prevent illegal drugs from being bought and used
- failure to get addicts help because they are processed as criminals rather than patients
- retardation of medical research

Positive consequences of the War on Drugs:

- amusement provided by hilariously misguided anti-drug films and ads like Reefer Madness

Yup, can’t imagine why anyone would call it bullshit.

65 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Jun 28, 2014 7:14:28am

Our addiction to imported energy funds tin-horn dictators and makes it necessary to maintain a large military to counter them.

Our drug addictions fund gang lords and drug barons who make it necessary to maintain an armed police force to counter them.

66 A Mom Anon  Jun 28, 2014 7:17:51am

re: #49 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

My husband used to get this beer called Duck Rabbit Milk Stout that had a similar type logo. He loved it, I thought it was, meh.

67 Aunty Entity Dragon  Jun 28, 2014 7:27:02am

re: #58 Justanotherhuman

Please explain why you think the “war on drugs” is “bullshit”? And what “circumstances” do you think drug dealers and gangsters come from? Aside from the myth that drug traffickers and dealers are somehow from the lower classes who have no other choices in life, quite the opposite is more often true. It always takes money to make money. If you want to make an argument that the govt itself uses tax dollars to “set up” drug deals or buy them in sting operations, that’s an entirely different matter.

There are plenty of opportunists out there who would make huge profits from legalizing all sorts of banned substances as we are seeing from the legalization of pot. Get ready for the marijuana millionaires.

Because the “war on drugs” ended up being a war on impoverished black communities and an excuse to grab people’s homes, businesses and property and transfer that wealth to police.

Police today are nothing at all like police 30 years ago in many respects. They hold an adversarial relationship with the communities they supposedly serve, escalate normal encounters into violent confrontations and have started the unfortunate recent trend of killing nearly every pet they come into contact with when they enter a person’s yard or home…even if just to ask for directions (many, many, many examples of this…updated on a daily basis. Google “puppycide”)

Police are not your friends. Officer Friendly was a pre-drug war notion. We now have the militarized, ramped up and ready to subdue the community warriors we paid for and they have no problem using a SWAT team to bust down your door, blow away your dog with an MP-5 submachine gun and scream obscentities at your and your family while holding you at gunpoint for hours while they destroy your house and belongings…….all because a tweaked out snitch told them he made a 50 dollar purchase at your house…or maybe your neighbor’s house.*

It happens every single day.

Fun facts:

50% people impacted by SWAT deployments from 2011 to 2012 are black or Latino. Whites account for 20%.
Seven civilians were killed and 46 injured in such deployments from 2010 to 2013.
79% of all SWAT deployments were to execute search warrants for homes, most of them for drug searches.

Also, 36% of these raids found no contraband.

From the above link at Time Magazine:

Tragic case studies accompany the figures, among them that of Tarika Wilson, a 26-year-old mother who was shot and killed holding her 14-month-old son, and Eurie Stamp, a 68-year-old grandfather who was shot while watching baseball in his pajamas during a SWAT invasion. Bounkham Phonesavanh, a 19-month-old baby, was in a medically induced coma after paramilitary squads unwittingly threw a flash grenade into his crib, piercing a hole in his cheek, chest and scarring his body with third-degree burns. None of the victims were suspects.

The ACLU claims the militarization of policing in the U.S. lacks oversight and transparency. Not a single law-enforcement agency provided documents of all information “necessary to undertake a thorough examination of police militarization.”

It added, “Neighborhoods are not war zones, and our police officers should not be treating us like wartime enemies.”

*washingtonpost.com

(Che Calvo was the mayor of Berwyn Heights in Maryland, which didn’t stop a county SWAT team from killing the family pets and terrorizing him and his family for hours over a mistaken raid. In an interview, a city PD officer showed up at the scene and was told by a SWAT team member that “this idot inside says he’s the mayor!” The city officer said “Yeah…he is the mayor” and noticed the county SWAT team officer had an “oh shit!” look. The city officer went inside, saw the blood everywhere from the two dead dogs and saw the mayor was in his underwear and handcuffed to a chair. He positioned himself where he could see the mayor at all times…on the suspicion that somebody might try to kill the mayor in an “escape attempt”. He told the newspaper reporter that he didn’t want any officers desposing of the problem by murdering the mayor under color of law)

68 wrenchwench  Jun 28, 2014 7:28:35am

re: #65 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Our addiction to imported energy funds tin-horn dictators and makes it necessary to maintain a large military to counter them.

Our drug addictions fund gang lords and drug barons who make it necessary to maintain an armed police force to counter them.

Those same drug gangs are profiting in the markets for limes and avocados.

Do we have to give those up too?

69 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Jun 28, 2014 7:30:04am

re: #68 wrenchwench

Those same drug gangs are profiting in the markets for limes and avocados.

Do we have to give those up too?

They have grown big enough on drug profits to be able to muscle in on other industries as well.

70 austin_blue  Jun 28, 2014 7:35:17am

Morning all!

Coffee, a New York Times crossword, and Brazil vs. Chile at 11 AM on ABC. Life is good! (I’ll bet on Chile).

Good line from a Brit ex-pat neighbor of mine:

Neymar carries Brazil, and Messi carries Argentina. Who carries the English National Team?

British Airways.

(Rim shot! Try the veal and tip your server. I’ll be here all week.)

As to the post, the giveaway of MRAPs to the rapidly militarizing local police forces in this country is, in my opinion, troubling. Why exactly does Bastrop County, east of Austin and containing exactly two towns with more than 5,000 people in them, need a Mine Resistant Armored Personnel vehicle? But they’ve got one.

71 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 7:40:20am

re: #62 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

If we want drug addiction (just like alcohol addiction) to be classed as a medical condition, then the laws should be changed, but even classing them as a medical condition doesn’t affect their use, as we’ve seen w/alcohol. NORML has been lobbying for the legalization of marijuana for 45 yrs, so we know that change comes slowly. In the meantime, laws are laws and those who break them, no matter how unfair we think they are, pay the price.

People at the bottom of the drug chain, the street types, don’t make very much money from their own activities, usually just enough for their own personal use, and are treated by their bosses like pimps treat hookers. At any rate, it’s self-defeating in poor areas because drug addiction just adds to the misery and locking in of poverty. I see it around here all the time, whether it’s illegal hard drugs or pharmaceuticals being illegally pedaled, like oxycontin. These are usually people w/o much of a future who aren’t your middle class who have enough disposable income to smoke a joint as often as they’d like.

As with the pharmaceuticals, though, there will be those people who will purchase anything made legal and create another black market for the drugs to sell to minors and others who might not be eligible to purchase them.

It’s just sad that in spite of what we know about the effects of drugs, whether hard drugs, alcohol or cigarettes or the pharmaceuticals which are used as a substitute for hard drugs, that a lot of people will continue to abuse the very drugs which make them addicted and sick in the first place.

And BTW, Escobar and Lucas were really exceptions to the rule of who makes big money in drugs, by setting up their own cartels and treating it as a business with payoffs to corrupt officials.

72 Killgore Trout  Jun 28, 2014 7:52:46am

Gaza - Israeli Air Force Pinpoint Strike Hits 2 Islamic Terrorists

Liveleak Video

The two, Osama Al-Hasumi and Mohamad Al-Fassih, members of the Terrorist group Popular Resistance Committees, were involved in firing rockets from the Gaza strip toward Israeli towns. In the past two weeks 20 rockets were fired from Gaza, luckily causing no injuries only some damage to property. The attack caught on footage took place after Islamic militants detonated an IED on an IDF vehicle patrolling the border between Gaza and Israel (no injuries in that incident either). Later that day the IDF attacked 4 targets in Gaza, IDF spokesman reported hitting two locations associated with terrorist activity, a weapons manufacturing location and a weapons storage facility.

Impressive shot, even worked around the pedestrians.

73 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 7:53:37am

re: #71 Justanotherhuman

If we want drug addiction (just like alcohol addiction) to be classed as a medical condition, then the laws should be changed, but even classing them as a medical condition doesn’t affect their use, as we’ve seen w/alcohol. NORML has been lobbying for the legalization of marijuana for 45 yrs, so we know that change comes slowly. In the meantime, laws are laws and those who break them, no matter how unfair we think they are, pay the price.

Okay. Not sure how that equates to the war on drugs not being bullshit. Can you explain?

People at the bottom of the drug chain, the street types, don’t make very much money from their own activities, usually just enough for their own personal use, and are treated by their bosses like pimps treat hookers. At any rate, it’s self-defeating in poor areas because drug addiction just adds to the misery and locking in of poverty. I see it around here all the time, whether it’s illegal hard drugs or pharmaceuticals being illegally pedaled, like oxycontin. These are usually people w/o much of a future who aren’t your middle class who have enough disposable income to smoke a joint as often as they’d like.

Okay. Again, not sure how this isn’t the drug war being bullshit.

As with the pharmaceuticals, though, there will be those people who will purchase anything made legal and create another black market for the drugs to sell to minors and others who might not be eligible to purchase them.

What pharmaceuticals?

It’s just sad that in spite of what we know about the effects of drugs, whether hard drugs, alcohol or cigarettes or the pharmaceuticals which are used as a substitute for hard drugs, that a lot of people will continue to abuse the very drugs which make them addicted and sick in the first place.

Okay. What does this have to do with the drug war being bullshit?

And BTW, Escobar and Lucas were really exceptions to the rule of who makes big money in drugs, by setting up their own cartels and treating it as a business with payoffs to corrupt officials.

Do you have any particular research you can point me towards that you’re getting the idea that most drug dealers start out with a lot of money? I know the Ochoa brothers did, but who else?

I basically don’t know what you mean when you disagree with me about the drug war being bullshit. In what way is it not bullshit?

74 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 7:56:10am

The war on drugs is bullshit because one can not regulate what is not legal.

75 Kilroy01  Jun 28, 2014 7:56:19am

Pesky Kids new ride

76 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 7:59:49am

It’s a bit less humid in my part of the world today

Your Daily Kitteh.

77 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:02:31am

Why the War on Drugs is Bullshit.

I’m not sure this a single piece of evidence that is more convincing that Ken Burn’s Prohibition.

78 Aunty Entity Dragon  Jun 28, 2014 8:03:31am

re: #75 Kilroy01

Now that one is funny… XD

80 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:04:45am

And, how is your morning?

81 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 8:06:46am

Monster.

Warrant: Cobb toddler’s dad researched child deaths inside vehicles

ajc.com

82 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:07:09am

Bill Clinton on the War on Drugs from Breaking the Taboo (35 sec)
Youtube Video

83 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:09:12am

The Whole Documentary Breaking the Taboo (1 hr 49 min)
Youtube Video

84 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:17:14am

Dude@DontSpamMeBro.ca

85 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 8:20:41am

re: #69 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

They have grown big enough on drug profits to be able to muscle in on other industries as well.

Smart large organizations (legitimate or criminal) will almost always try to diversify their operations. If nothing else, it’s security in case your main market goes sour on you.

86 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 8:22:22am

re: #77 FemNaziBitch

I don’t see it as a “moral” issue, I see it as a social failing, a kind of self-imposed infantilism of a society that has followed Puritan era strictures from the beginning. Some people are able to finally escape the horrors of addiction, but a lot depends upon your social position in life. I’m not even religious, but all too often I’ve seen the effects of drugs personally on people I love. Believe me, when people’s brains aren’t operating normally but are affected by drugs, they don’t need you, care about you or respect you, or anyone else. The drug is their only friend.

Here’s one story, but most addicts don’t have their addiction documented, or even recover, even if they go from one drug to another.

Coming clean: the photo diary of a heroin addict

Graham MacIndoe was a successful photographer, working for the Guardian’s Weekend magazine among others. Then he began a destructive journey into heroin addiction - and turned the camera on himself. He and his partner Susan Stellin recall the road to recovery

theguardian.com

87 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 8:23:09am

re: #85 Dark_Falcon

If we outlaw limes, only criminals will have margaritas.

88 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:24:02am
89 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Jun 28, 2014 8:26:35am

re: #88 FemNaziBitch

Democratic Virginia State Senator Allegedly Took Bribe To Resign, Creating GOP Majority

further proof that Dems are the real racists

/

90 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:27:21am

re: #86 Justanotherhuman

I don’t see it as a “moral” issue, I see it as a social failing, a kind of self-imposed infantilism of a society that has followed Puritan era strictures from the beginning. Some people are able to finally escape the horrors of addiction, but a lot depends upon your social position in life. I’m not even religious, but all too often I’ve seen the effects of drugs personally on people I love. Believe me, when people’s brains aren’t operating normally but are affected by drugs, they don’t need you, care about you or respect you, or anyone else. The drug is their only friend.

Here’s one story, but most addicts don’t have their addiction documented, or even recover, even if they go from one drug to another.

Coming clean: the photo diary of a heroin addict

Graham MacIndoe was a successful photographer, working for the Guardian’s Weekend magazine among others. Then he began a destructive journey into heroin addiction - and turned the camera on himself. He and his partner Susan Stellin recall the road to recovery

theguardian.com

I see it as another layer of stigma and taboo that keep people from seeking mental health treatment. Addiction often starts as a way to self-medicate. It’s difficult to admit to a crime when seeking medical care.

Drug use keeps many rape victims from coming to the hospital and thus rapists go free. I’ve seen first hand how drug users get treated in the ER.

Legalize it, regulate it, tax it.

Although with the amount of money being made —that will be difficult.

91 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 8:29:59am

re: #86 Justanotherhuman

The thing is, they’re illegal here, and it didn’t stop the people you describe. On the other hand, it has been abused to target minorities with great effect.

Looking at other countries, and Colorado for that matter, having the drugs legal doesn’t really change most people’s habits. I read somewhere that the percentage of people who smoke marijuana did not change in Colorado after legalization.

And there are lots of things that are just as addictive and just as self-destructive that are not only legal but could never be made illegal, one being the internet (yes, people have had to be treated for internet addiction).

92 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:31:06am

WTF is going on with water in Detroit?

anyone care to give me a headline type of answer?

93 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:31:50am

Or muslims demanding these women wear veils.

94 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:31:55am

re: #91 Belafon

And there are lots of things that are just as addictive and just as self-destructive that are not only legal but could never be made illegal, one being the internet

I could name a couple of world leaders who would disagree with this assessment./

95 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:32:12am

re: #93 FemNaziBitch

Hehe.

96 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 28, 2014 8:33:16am

re: #92 FemNaziBitch

WTF is going on with water in Detroit?

anyone care to give me a headline type of answer?

VB has a page.

97 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 8:34:09am

re: #94 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

I was talking about here in the US, but you are correct.

98 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 8:34:51am

re: #86 Justanotherhuman

Nobody is taking the position ‘all drugs are harmless’ though. You really aren’t making a very clear point.

Criminalizing drugs doesn’t really lessen their harm, and I’m not really sure why you think it does.

99 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:35:43am

re: #97 Belafon

I was talking about here in the US, but you are correct.

I know, that’s why / ;)

101 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 8:36:17am

re: #98 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Every drug addict in the US is also a criminal under current US law.

102 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 8:37:39am

re: #100 FemNaziBitch

“After using LSD, I got a message from God. He said: ‘My bad.’”

103 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:37:42am

re: #98 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Nobody is taking the position ‘all drugs are harmless’ though. You really aren’t making a very clear point.

Criminalizing drugs doesn’t really lessen their harm, and I’m not really sure why you think it does.

I’m on neither side of the debate, as I don’t really know much about all the issues involved, so a straight question: what would you reply to a claim that legalizing hard drugs would expand the circle of users?

104 Kilroy01  Jun 28, 2014 8:39:40am

Love it when a plan comes together

105 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 8:39:40am

re: #96 Backwoods_Sleuth

VB has a page.

Yes, but that Page has been sullied by several posts containing nothing but troll dung.

106 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:41:18am

re: #96 Backwoods_Sleuth

VB has a page.

Well, that comment thread is interesting.

107 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 8:41:41am

re: #104 Kilroy01

Love it when a plan comes together

Interesting: You produced a parody that makes far more sense than the wingnut meme it mocks. After all, had they been available, it would have made good sense for the A-Team to have an MRAP.

108 austin_blue  Jun 28, 2014 8:42:03am

re: #90 FemNaziBitch

I see it as another layer of stigma and taboo that keep people from seeking mental health treatment. Addiction often starts as a way to self-medicate. It’s difficult to admit to a crime when seeking medical care.

Drug use keeps many rape victims from coming to the hospital and thus rapists go free. I’ve seen first hand how drug users get treated in the ER.

Legalize it, regulate it, tax it.

Although with the amount of money being made —that will be difficult.

Difficult, but not impossible. And of course it *will* happen. A huge advantage is dosage consistency. No more ODs. Will there be a Black Market in a Free Market? Yes, but that is a price-point issue. It’ll be worked out.

109 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 28, 2014 8:43:24am

re: #106 FemNaziBitch

Well, that comment thread is interesting.

The particular commenter kinda proved the point of VB’s post.

110 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 8:43:29am

NNTS: Islam Not Covered by First Amendment, Says Republican House Candidate

This is a strange website.

111 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 8:44:30am

re: #98 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Nobody is taking the position ‘all drugs are harmless’ though. You really aren’t making a very clear point.

Criminalizing drugs doesn’t really lessen their harm, and I’m not really sure why you think it does.

I never said I was for criminalizing drugs.

And BTW, I was a nicotine addict for over 50 yrs. I still crave it. It was a cash crop in church-loving NC where I smoked my first cigarette at age 15. It’s the only substance I ever “had to have” that didn’t contribute to my overall health.

112 wrenchwench  Jun 28, 2014 8:46:47am

re: #69 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

They have grown big enough on drug profits to be able to muscle in on other industries as well.

They are also selling Mexico’s oil, so the drug gangs are enabled by driving, too.

113 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 8:46:56am

re: #106 FemNaziBitch

Well, that comment thread is interesting.

Trolls are rare in lizard country now, but on that thread one of them showed up and did his thing. ‘1Peter G1’, it calls itself. So if you see that nic again, remember:

114 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:47:54am

re: #113 Dark_Falcon

That pic is counterproductive - the troll is so cute you just have to feed it ;)

115 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 8:48:31am

re: #103 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

I would say this: In 2001, Portugal decriminalized drug use. According to Wikipedia, the US ranks second in cocain use at 2.8%. Portgual is 62nd, at .3%. For opiates, portgual is at 20 at .7%, and the US is at 27 at .57%.

According to this Time article:

[I]n the five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled.

116 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 28, 2014 8:49:15am
117 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:49:32am

re: #115 Belafon

Thanks.

119 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:51:09am

re: #115 Belafon

Although anything Cato raises red flags for me.

120 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:52:31am

Also, the research was done by … Greenwald ;)

121 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 8:55:55am

re: #111 Justanotherhuman

I never said I was for criminalizing drugs.

And BTW, I was a nicotine addict for over 50 yrs. I still crave it. It was a cash crop in church-loving NC where I smoked my first cigarette at age 15. It’s the only substance I ever “had to have” that didn’t contribute to my overall health.

It’s funny. I smoked heavily (2 1/2 - 3 packs a day) for about 25 years. Quit cold turkey and never once before or after felt that I “had to have” one

Once I quit and even to this day it doesn’t bother me nor do I crave one if someone lights one up right next to me

122 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 8:56:40am

re: #121 sattv4u2

You’re special (no sarc).

123 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 8:57:05am

re: #90 FemNaziBitch

I see it as another layer of stigma and taboo that keep people from seeking mental health treatment. Addiction often starts as a way to self-medicate. It’s difficult to admit to a crime when seeking medical care.

Drug use keeps many rape victims from coming to the hospital and thus rapists go free. I’ve seen first hand how drug users get treated in the ER.

Legalize it, regulate it, tax it.

Although with the amount of money being made —that will be difficult.

So, you would legalize drugs like crack cocaine and heroin?

Shouldn’t we try to educate men about what is permissible in regard to their actions with women? Drugs and alcohol often override people’s survival instincts as well and clouds judgment. But there is no justification for victimizing victims a second time, or over and over.

124 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 8:58:06am

re: #122 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

You’re special (no sarc).

thanks

125 austin_blue  Jun 28, 2014 8:59:43am

re: #123 Justanotherhuman

So, you would legalize drugs like crack cocaine and heroin?

Shouldn’t we try to educate men about what is permissible in regard to their actions with women? Drugs and alcohol often override people’s survival instincts as well and clouds judgment. But there is no justification for victimizing victims a second time, or over and over.

How did you get from legalizing drug use to date rape? Separate issues, no?

126 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 9:01:22am

I would need some mighty good arguments before I would agree with legalization of something like heroin.

127 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:02:13am

FDA will never allow the legalization of heroin or cocaine which are both extremely dangerous drugs. Even if you were to legalize is I would welcome class action lawsuits that result in any deaths or injuries resulting from the sale of said drugs. Essentially, they would be shut down in no time after going bankrupt.

128 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:03:28am

re: #126 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

I would need some mighty good arguments before I would agree with legalization of something like heroin.

I imagine that would be the hardest thing about legalizing something harder than pot

Where to draw the line

129 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 9:03:46am

re: #125 austin_blue

How did you get from legalizing drug use to date rape? Separate issues, no?

yes and no.

People who are under the influence of drugs are less likely to report rape or date-rape because they are afraid that any blood test or urine test performed will be held against them if it shows their own drug use.

I’d like to see decriminalization of harder drugs and an emphasis on treating any underlying mental health health issues that might have led the person to self-medicate in the first place.

I think it makes much more economic sense to get the person clean and sober and on the right legal psych meds than to put a mentally ill person in the justice system.

Law Enforcement needs to focus on the distribution of drugs, not the use.

130 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 9:04:13am

re: #127 Gus

FDA will never allow the legalization of heroin or cocaine which are both extremely dangerous drugs. Even if you were to legalize is I would welcome class action lawsuits that result in any deaths or injuries resulting from the sale of said drugs. Essentially, they would be shut down in no time after going bankrupt.

thus driving it back into the black market.

131 bratwurst  Jun 28, 2014 9:04:29am
132 FemNaziBitch  Jun 28, 2014 9:04:36am

bbl

133 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 9:05:01am

re: #126 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

I would need some mighty good arguments before I would agree with legalization of something like heroin.

That said, possession should result in therapy, not prison.

134 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:05:17am

re: #130 FemNaziBitch

thus driving it back into the black market.

Yes. The idea of making legal distributors of cocaine or heroin immune from liability lawsuits is not likely. Because that’s what it would take.

135 austin_blue  Jun 28, 2014 9:06:29am

re: #129 FemNaziBitch

yes and no.

People who are under the influence of drugs are less likely to report rape or date-rape because they are afraid that any blood test or urine test performed will be held against them if it shows their own drug use.

I’d like to see decriminalization of harder drugs and an emphasis on treating any underlying mental health health issues that might have led the person to self-medicate in the first place.

I think it makes much more economic sense to get the person clean and sober and on the right legal psych meds than to put a mentally ill person in the justice system.

Law Enforcement needs to focus on the distribution of drugs, not the use.

Agreed!

136 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:09:42am

Contact your congressperson. Whatever needs to change would happen in congress. The one that has a 7% approval rating. Namely a change in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Otherwise it’s mostly unicorns. It should be noted that cops, the judiciary, courts, and the DEA did not make those laws. They’re merely enforcing laws legislated by state or federal lawmakers. Blaming the war on drugs on cops is a lop sided argument. That includes the militarization of police.

137 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 9:12:11am

re: #129 FemNaziBitch

yes and no.

Law Enforcement needs to focus on the distribution of drugs, not the use.

Thus, we return to the “war on drugs” which I think is an absolute misnomer.

It’s very easy for middle class people to have a different perspective on drugs when dealers aren’t standing on their corners and their next door neighbors aren’t being busted.

138 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 9:15:04am

re: #110 FemNaziBitch

NNTS: Islam Not Covered by First Amendment, Says Republican House Candidate

This is a strange website.

These peoples reasoning skills need a little work.

The idiot is claiming Islam is much more than just a religion…it is a geo-political way to control people worldwide.

Ahhh…hello!!!

What do the fundamentalist/theocratic types say all the time? Something about the US Constitution is based on the Christian Bible. Then that thinking alone makes it more than a religion. Wow…just like Islam thinking politics is based on theocracy.

What about Christian people going out all over the world and ministering to people to find their way through the Christian God? How many fundamentalists and Christians would love to be able to convert the whole world to Christianity? It seems the goal of many a church. And what is evangelizing about anyway, but conversion???

Shoot, as said many times, I was raised and schooled Catholic. No way anyone can tell me the Catholic Church is not about being geo-political.

So Mr. Jody Nice, you fail. But I have to ask….why are so many Christians failing to ask the same of their religious views you ask of others? Why is it so hard to see that many religions have some major problems. And maybe, that is why those forefathers you guys always go on about as conservatives set the language in the Constitution to try to avoid the dangerous thinking that you and too many like you seem to engage in these days.

This country needs to fix some of the political religious issues. Heck, it is very much more a problem than drugs as far as real political damage. Look around. And it has some of the same issues…addiction and looking for things that make you feel good. In this sense…feel superior.

139 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 9:15:34am

Sorry…somehow I double posted.

140 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 9:16:26am

re: #96 Backwoods_Sleuth

VB has a page.

GGT and I both have left new comments on that Page. We both took the troll to task, but I also went after one of VB’s sources, a Guardian piece I found badly flawed. I was careful not to go after VB, of course, but that article was an badly sourced and documented piece of agit-prop.

141 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 9:17:45am

Husband of Sudanese woman Meriam Ibrahim says US embassy officials are helping and doing a ‘very good job,’ but still unclear when they would be released - @AlexMurraySmith
End of alert

142 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:18:56am

Should be also noted that cops aren’t using MRAPs to arrest non-violent drug offenders. They’re using squad cars and it’s mostly a result of traffic stops or stop and frisk type scenarios. MRAPs in fact are rarely used by police departments except in hostage situation or the proverbial “armed man held up in home.” They could be used in situations such as the Bundy ranch. If you think LE shouldn’t have these vehicles available for such situations you may want to consider joining your local PD and facing such situation without an armored vehicle.

143 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:22:07am

re: #142 Gus

I’d like to have one just to see the looks I’d get if I went thru the drive-thru at Wendys!!
/

144 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:23:39am

re: #143 sattv4u2

I’d like to have one just to see the looks I’d get if I went thru the drive-thru at Wendys!!
/

Most police department probably use them for parades.

145 Feline Fearless Leader  Jun 28, 2014 9:24:36am

GOAL!

Brazil up 1-0 over Chile.

146 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 9:26:14am

Hussein Obama will take away mah guns and mah meth!!1

147 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:26:53am

Cops have this innate ability of being able to intimidate people with just and old school .38, a badge, and a Galaxy 500 squad car. Those are the rules.

148 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:27:12am

You can make up your own rules but then you might want to consider joining Oathkeepers.

149 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:27:52am

re: #147 Gus

Cops have this innate ability of being able to intimidate people with just and old school .38, a badge, and a Galaxy 500 squad car. Those are the rules.

Someone didn’t get that message out to drug dealers and gang bangers!

150 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:29:38am

re: #149 sattv4u2

Someone didn’t get that message out to drug dealers and gang bangers!

Yeah, that’s their problem I guess. Most gang bangers will follow along. Starting to seem like most of the people that hassle cops these days are young white people. Drug dealers are rare and typically caught by the feds.

151 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:30:02am

re: #145 Feline Fearless Leader

GOAL!

Brazil up 1-0 over Chile.

Yeah. Brazil should make the semis (beat Chile today, then the Columbia/ Uraguay winner on the 4th)

Then it gets rough for them. They’ll have to most likely play either France or Germany (my quess, Germany) to make the finals

152 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:33:42am

Cops now face the probablity (although still low) of facing a mass shooter and we want them not to have MRAPs? They’re mine resistance is only a coincidence. The bottom line is that they’re available for free to LE departments. Getting a free MRAP is a lot cheaper than buying an off the shelf armored vehicle. The existence of MRAP and LE departments do not change or create laws. And again, they’re rarely used.

153 Lidane  Jun 28, 2014 9:34:18am

Ooh! Nice shot. Chile just scored so it’s 1-1 now.

154 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 9:34:36am

re: #150 Gus

Yeah, that’s their problem I guess. Most gang bangers will follow along. Starting to seem like most of the people that hassle cops these days are young white people. Drug dealers are rare and typically caught by the feds.

Yeah, but cops nearer where cartel enforcers are sometimes found (and Chicago is one of those places, truth to tell) need a good bit than a .38. Because some of those guys just plain don’t care who you are, and if they’ve got enough of a firepower edge over you they will gun you down badge or not.

155 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:35:13am

For example: “Albuquerque police sued by family of mentally ill homeless man shot dead.” No MRAP was used in this event. The cop was likely just another beat cop that got out of his Crown Victoria squad car.

156 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:35:23am

re: #154 Dark_Falcon

Yeah, but cops nearer where cartel enforcers are sometimes found (and Chicago is one of those places, truth to tell) need a good bit than a .38. Because some of those guys just plain don’t care who you are, and if they’ve got enough of a firepower edge over you they will gun you down badge or not.

Sounds like a movie.

157 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:35:41am

Siege in Chicago

158 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 9:36:03am

re: #136 Gus

Contact your congressperson. Whatever needs to change would happen in congress. The one that has a 7% approval rating. Namely a change in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Otherwise it’s mostly unicorns. It should be noted that cops, the judiciary, courts, and the DEA did not make those laws. They’re merely enforcing laws legislated by state or federal lawmakers. Blaming the war on drugs on cops is a lop sided argument. That includes the militarization of police.

Gus, have to disagree a wee bit. There are many ways that ‘policing’ can be done. You can be a strict interpretation hard-ass on drug policy, or take a more medical/social view to the problems. So, some of the ‘war’ on drugs can be different from city to city, county to county…state to state.

I saw some cops talking about legalization of pot in Colorado and Washington. They treated it as an affront to their very being. They see it as the evil, lawless gateway drug to the downfall of society. Sounds a little like Dick Cheney about Iraq.

Along that same line…money from the feds/state.communities to fight the war allowed police to invest in things more equipment like the armored personnel vehicles and swat teams. Police NEVER turn down buying new neat stuff…and I think everyone can admit there is a certain GI Joe thinking in some of our police forces.

So, that ability to ramp up the war with more toys also fits into the police part of the war. Once you got toys and more GI Joes…well you just have to use them. Or…overuse them. And that use is war and the police are responsible for their part.

I think everyone is a part of the war on drugs. I blame society and the fact that we can never do something for its simple best outcome. It all gets clouded by all the stuff we talk about around here daily. Politics. Religion. Stupid people. People prone to addiction or obsessive behavior, meaning-well do-gooders, etc.

159 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:36:23am

How about that weird idea of fixing economic and social conditions.

160 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 9:37:12am

re: #152 Gus

Cops now face the probablity (although still low) of facing a mass shooter and we want them not to have MRAPs? They’re mine resistance is only a coincidence. The bottom line is that they’re available for free to LE departments. Getting a free MRAP is a lot cheaper than buying an off the shelf armored vehicle. The existence of MRAP and LE departments do not change or create laws. And again, they’re rarely used.

The blast protection of MRAPs makes them useful to bomb squads and for first responders to a terrorist attack. A favored tactic of terrorists is to use IEDs to kill first responders; using an MRAP prevents the tactic from succeeding.

161 Gus  Jun 28, 2014 9:37:17am

re: #158 ObserverArt

You mean the police unions? Yes, police and prison guard unions are main opponents of drug law decriminalization.

162 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 9:37:43am

re: #100 FemNaziBitch

Just Say Yes: Pope Endorses Recreational Drugs That Induce Religious Ecstasy, Visions

heehee

Religion is already a drug to some, and drugs are a religion to others.

So yeah, I can see how he’d say that.

163 Lidane  Jun 28, 2014 9:37:46am

re: #159 Gus

How about that weird idea of fixing economic and social conditions.

Sounds like communism, son. Can’t allow that.

/////

164 Dark_Falcon  Jun 28, 2014 9:39:12am

re: #157 Gus

Siege in Chicago

It happen sometimes, but its rare. But police departments need to have things they use for rare “dire emergency” situations, and they need to train to use those things before said emergencies occur.

165 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:44:39am

re: #157 Gus

Siege in Chicago

Sage in Chicago

(a cooking show)

166 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 9:45:02am

In which GG winds up praising himself. Quelle surprise.

167 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 9:45:25am

re: #100 FemNaziBitch

Just Say Yes: Pope Endorses Recreational Drugs That Induce Religious Ecstasy, Visions

heehee

WWMS?
(What would Marx say?)

168 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:46:45am

re: #167 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

WWMS?
(What would Marx say?)

Not much. After all, he’s been dead for 131 years

169 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 9:47:05am

re: #167 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

WWMS?
(What would Marx say?)

Satire site.

newslo.com

170 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 9:47:21am

re: #168 sattv4u2

Not much. After all, he’s been dead for 131 years

That’s why the subjunctive mood ;)

171 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jun 28, 2014 9:47:32am

re: #169 Justanotherhuman

I know.

172 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 9:47:54am

re: #161 Gus

You mean the police unions? Yes, police and prison guard unions are main opponents of drug law decriminalization.

No. I came across some police talking about pot growing and fighting the war on drugs. They were talking about their issues of legal medical pot growers and illegal pot growers and how they had to enforce differently in Cali because they have to know the distinction between the two.

In the interview with about 5 of the California county cops working with DEA as local reps on the lookout for growers, they were asked about legalization as I mentioned. They acted as if they would do everything in their beings to make sure that didn’t happen in other states and that it would again go back to illegal in any state that tried it. That is a war stance. Not merely a law enforcement stance.

They did not seem to want to acknowledge they would have to follow the law as set by the voters and the politicians. And that goes a bit against your comment.

There are drug warriors. These guys sure came off like it.

173 sattv4u2  Jun 28, 2014 9:48:15am

re: #167 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

WWMS?
(What would Marx say?)

Unless you meant Groucho

he too wouldn’t have much to say

if he did, it would be along the lines of
“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know.”

174 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 9:56:46am

re: #164 Dark_Falcon

It happen sometimes, but its rare. But police departments need to have things they use for rare “dire emergency” situations, and they need to train to use those things before said emergencies occur.

Way back in the late 80s…during the crack cocaine wars, the Franklin County (Columbus, OH) Sheriff (good ol’ Earl Smith) was one of the first local law guys in America to get an armored vehicle.

I don’t know all my military equipment makes and models, but it was one of the type with the six or eight tires and very angular in design. It had a turret on top about middle location. No windows other than the front. Maybe some covered ports on the side for shooting out of. etc.

Anyway…for years that idiot would roll that vehicle into just about anything he could…and to seemingly make it look good on TV for the locals. It may have actually been needed is a couple instances. Most of the time it was for show. Almost like he had to justify the damn thing.

Once ol’ Earl was voted out of office in the 90s, the new Sheriff took a different view of things. I haven’t seen it mentioned or used in years. I sort of wonder if they still have it, or turned it over to the local Motts Military Museum for their collection. The county sheriff seem to be fine with their heavily plated UPS like trucks and vans for SWAT.

175 Rightwingconspirator  Jun 28, 2014 10:03:22am

re: #152 Gus

Cops now face the probablity (although still low) of facing a mass shooter and we want them not to have MRAPs? They’re mine resistance is only a coincidence. The bottom line is that they’re available for free to LE departments. Getting a free MRAP is a lot cheaper than buying an off the shelf armored vehicle. The existence of MRAP and LE departments do not change or create laws. And again, they’re rarely used.

I wonder how much it costs to maintain an ordinary armored car like what FedEx and brinks use compared to an MRAP. Bad guy with a gun? Common. Bad guy with an RPG or mines laid in the road? Pretty damn rare.

LAPD retired it’s armored APC. It was useless at best and a liability all too often. When we had the big famous North Hollywood bank heist, the cops used a Brinks truck for rescue. The armor piercing rounds from the bad guys did not shred that vehicle like they did everything else hit.

If the pentagon wants to give away old A-10’s is that cheaper and better than a new helicopter for big police departments?
////

176 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 28, 2014 10:03:50am

heh..

177 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:04:08am

re: #174 ObserverArt

It seems stupid to have those for ordinary crimes. No doubt Mr. Smith had a small dick problem?

Or watched too many “Die Hard” movies?

178 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 10:12:38am

re: #103 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

I’m on neither side of the debate, as I don’t really know much about all the issues involved, so a straight question: what would you reply to a claim that legalizing hard drugs would expand the circle of users?

It’s a difficult claim to argue strongly for or against, but there’s no reason to believe the numbers would move significantly. Only about 10% of people are vulnerable to physical opiod addiction, and psychological addiction to it doesn’t mean the drug is the problem. A lot of the use of drugs, even ‘hard’ drugs, is because the person is alienated from their life and want to seek an escape. You find the same behavior no matter the legality of drugs, at most, you can shift what drug the person adheres to by changing laws.

If the population of people exposed is increased, but the population who are helped with their addictions or the negative effects of their addictions is increased by more, then it’s worth it. Again, data on this is extremely hard to accurately gather, but there’s no particular reason to assume that users would spike because of legality of ownership, if the sale of it was dealt with like other strong opiods.

We also have a massive overprescription problem of opiods in this country, and not nearly enough follow-up on addiction afterwards.

179 jaunte  Jun 28, 2014 10:13:03am

re: #176 Backwoods_Sleuth

Considering the menu.

180 Dr Lizardo  Jun 28, 2014 10:16:02am

Just an OT observation.

As I looked out over my balcony to the west, over the lands of Moravia, it gave me a moment to reflect that 100 years ago, where I am now was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ruled over by His Imperial Majesty, Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary.

In that 100 years since the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofie, this land has been Czechoslovakia, then the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia, then the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, then briefly Czechoslovakia and now, of course, the Czech Republic.

Four empires fell in the space of four years, and new ones rose and fell, though they didn’t call themselves ‘empires’. The maps changed, populations shifted, armies came and went.

All in the space of one century, a flicker of time though it seems practically eternal to us with our limited lifespans.

And all starting with the death of one man in Sarajevo.

181 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 10:16:48am

re: #136 Gus

Contact your congressperson. Whatever needs to change would happen in congress. The one that has a 7% approval rating. Namely a change in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Otherwise it’s mostly unicorns. It should be noted that cops, the judiciary, courts, and the DEA did not make those laws. They’re merely enforcing laws legislated by state or federal lawmakers. Blaming the war on drugs on cops is a lop sided argument. That includes the militarization of police.

I’d agree to a point, in that the cops are just the instrument of other politicians. Police departments don’t decide on their own how to do stuff: at most, it’s an elected official at the head of it, who then has some more leeway , but usually it’s a Mayoral appointment or otherwise set up by local government.

When people were raging against the NYPD during Occupy, they were missing the mark. Rage against the mayor’s office, who set the agenda for the cops.

Police departments didn’t necessarily want to buy tons of equipment and ‘counter terrorism’ training after 9/11, but that’s what they were given grants for.

182 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:22:39am

re: #181 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

There was a lot of fearful stupidity in the aftermath of 9/11.

183 Rightwingconspirator  Jun 28, 2014 10:22:54am

re: #178 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I’m sure you are right about addiction. Impossible to sell the public on that I think though. Just the law enforcement opposition would be very strong. Heck, look at how DEA looks at legal pot states. And what Observer Art pointed out above. Drug warrior cops.

Perhaps the most powerful argument for legal hard drugs is the potential to take away the criminal infrastructure, swap it out for a far less harmful model. In important ways the drug is not the big problem, the criminal and violent infrastructure that comes with it is. More guys high? Not a big deal except perhaps for their immediate circle. The dealer supplier cartel network is a huge threat. Looking at Mexico for instance.

What I’m left with is how addicts might still commit violent crimes just for the money to buy. Legal or not.

184 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:27:32am

re: #183 Rightwingconspirator

“Not a big deal except perhaps for their immediate circle.”

And that “immediate circle” often has a lot of clout. Laws aren’t made out of thin air, in spite of the Moses myth.

186 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:33:32am

re: #185 Killgore Trout

ISIS crucifies one of its own in Syria for corruption

Headline not exactly right. He wasn’t crucified, his body was just hung up with nails for a 3 day display.

“Before being crucified, the man was killed by three bullets to the head at Bab in the north of Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.”

187 Killgore Trout  Jun 28, 2014 10:35:27am

re: #186 Justanotherhuman

Headline not exactly right. He wasn’t crucified, his body was just hung up with nails for a 3 day display.

“Before being crucified, the man was killed by three bullets to the head at Bab in the north of Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.”

I think that still technically counts although shooting him in the head first is kinder since it takes the sting out of the crucifixion part.

188 William Barnett-Lewis  Jun 28, 2014 10:36:05am

re: #183 Rightwingconspirator

What I’m left with is how addicts might still commit violent crimes just for the money to buy. Legal or not.

Where legal cheap brands will serve poor customers. Look at alcohol - does your typical wino drink Château Margaux bordeaux or does he drink the cheapest vodka on the market? A vodka or ¨Maddog 20/20¨ type fortified wine for a small enough price one can panhandle a dollar or five from those unlucky enough to meet you but not so much that said wino has to commit violent crime.

The other alternative is to allow for supply under medicare/medicaid to those who are addicted and without other resources.

People commit crimes to obtain things that they can´t get legally anyway. If they face prison for their addiction what do they have to fear about how they feed that addiction? But how many people turn to violent crime for their beer or cigarettes?

Things do not have to remain how they are now just because of unnecessary fears.

189 BeachDem  Jun 28, 2014 10:38:39am

re: #174 ObserverArt

Wow—your post brought back memories! I worked on Bob Berry’s campaign when he ran against Earl Smith. Bob’s campaign was “he wrote the book,” because, Berry, in fact wrote the “book” for the department. All was going well until somebody decided Bob needed to look tough, like Earl, and shot an asinine commercial of Bob going in, guns drawn, on a drug bust. It was (rightfully) mocked and he lost the election.

(Note—my memory is slightly fuzzy—can’t remember if he lost by a little or a lot, but I do remember it being a debacle election for Dems.)

190 William Barnett-Lewis  Jun 28, 2014 10:38:58am

PS RWC - I got my tax refund the other day & ordered a new toy.

us.armscor.com

191 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 10:39:44am

re: #183 Rightwingconspirator

I’m sure you are right about addiction. Impossible to sell the public on that I think though.

Other nations have handled it, so can we. Americans are not innately stupid.

Just the law enforcement opposition would be very strong. Heck, look at how DEA looks at legal pot states. And what Observer Art pointed out above. Drug warrior cops.

Yes, there will be resistance to this. It would be a slow path, not a big change. It would start, as it has, with city programs.

Perhaps the most powerful argument for legal hard drugs is the potential to take away the criminal infrastructure, swap it out for a far less harmful model. In important ways the drug is not the big problem, the criminal and violent infrastructure that comes with it is. More guys high? Not a big deal except perhaps for their immediate circle. The dealer supplier cartel network is a huge threat. Looking at Mexico for instance.

Yeah, the cartels are horrible for Mexico and everywhere else.

What I’m left with is how addicts might still commit violent crimes just for the money to buy. Legal or not.

Not if we treat it as a medical problem. Addicts want maintenance doses.

192 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:42:14am

re: #188 William Barnett-Lewis

Where legal cheap brands will serve poor customers. Look at alcohol - does your typical wino drink Château Margaux bordeaux or does he drink the cheapest vodka on the market? A vodka or ¨Maddog 20/20¨ type fortified wine for a small enough price one can panhandle a dollar or five from those unlucky enough to meet you but not so much that said wino has to commit violent crime.

The other alternative is to allow for supply under medicare/medicaid to those who are addicted and without other resources.

People commit crimes to obtain things that they can´t get legally anyway. If they face prison for their addiction what do they have to fear about how they feed that addiction? But how many people turn to violent crime for their beer or cigarettes?

Things do not have to remain how they are now just because of unnecessary fears.

Why do you think crack was invented? Because poor people could get high quickly for a smaller amt of money than buying powder cocaine.

Like the difference between buying a quarter of Mexican dirt weed and the same amount of “boutique” style highly cultivated stuff for a much higher price.

193 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 10:50:12am

re: #191 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

According to stats out of Colorado, violent crime is down 5 percent the first year

194 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 10:53:13am

re: #189 BeachDem

Wow—your post brought back memories! I worked on Bob Berry’s campaign when he ran against Earl Smith. Bob’s campaign was “he wrote the book,” because, Berry, in fact wrote the “book” for the department. All was going well until somebody decided Bob needed to look tough, like Earl, and shot an asinine commercial of Bob going in, guns drawn, on a drug bust. It was (rightfully) mocked and he lost the election.

(Note—my memory is slightly fuzzy—can’t remember if he lost by a little or a lot, but I do remember it being a debacle election for Dems.)

Are you in the central Ohio area currently?

195 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:53:49am

re: #193 Belafon

According to stats out of Colorado, violent crime is down 5 percent the first year

I thought pot users weren’t violent.

I don’t think legalization has anything to do with that statistic unless you think users of other drugs, like meth, are giving them up and switching.

196 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 10:55:33am

Update: Benghazi suspect Ahmed Abu Khatallah to appear in court at 3:30 pm ET today in Washington, DC - @ChadPergram
see original on twitter.com

197 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 10:59:28am

re: #193 Belafon

According to stats out of Colorado, violent crime is down 5 percent the first year

That’s way too rough for analysis. It’s a good statistic because at least it doesn’t show a big spike, but you can’t get causative with data that raw. You’ve got to know how well the data was corrected for other factors, for one.

198 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 11:00:10am

re: #195 Justanotherhuman

I thought pot users weren’t violent.

I don’t think legalization has anything to do with that statistic unless you think users of other drugs, like meth, are giving them up and switching.

No, the argument there would be that there’s less illegal trade in marijuana, which is violent. People shoot each other over marijuana deals or the rights to sell marijuana in an area.

199 Lidane  Jun 28, 2014 11:00:11am

Extra time in the Brazil - Chile match. Hoo boy.

200 wrenchwench  Jun 28, 2014 11:00:28am

re: #195 Justanotherhuman

I thought pot users weren’t violent.

I don’t think legalization has anything to do with that statistic unless you think users of other drugs, like meth, are giving them up and switching.

Some people will switch from alcohol.

201 wrenchwench  Jun 28, 2014 11:03:21am

Ooh, pretty. Also: CHEMTRAILZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!1!

202 Killgore Trout  Jun 28, 2014 11:04:42am

I was a big Zappa fan as a kid but never really understood Captain Beefheart, he just never appealed to me for some reason. Over the past couple years I’ve really learned to appreciate him and how underrated he is today. You can hear Beefheart’s influence on Tom Waits, Les Claypool, Beck and tons of other artists.
Captain Beefheart Full Documentary

Youtube Video

203 thedopefishlives  Jun 28, 2014 11:04:59am

Afternoon Lizardim.

204 wrenchwench  Jun 28, 2014 11:05:46am

Yesterday I finished all the repairs and had no tickets in the rack of future jobs. For the first time in— I don’t know how long.

It lasted 20 minutes.

Back to work.

205 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 11:08:10am

re: #198 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

No, the argument there would be that there’s less illegal trade in marijuana, which is violent. People shoot each other over marijuana deals or the rights to sell marijuana in an area.

You don’t think that will still go on, the illegal dealing? I do, not just in other drugs but in pot, too.

Even if I lived there and smoked pot on a regular basis, the store prices are far too high for me to afford.

So, I expect that people without the kind of disposable income you need for it will still try to keep their cost down by buying from their normal source if it’s much cheaper, for instance, $50 for 1/8 in the store, or $50 for 1/4 on the street? They’re probably not interested in the edibles or other fancy products, either.

206 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 28, 2014 11:09:55am

10 minutes to NASA’s launch of its flying saucer test (live stream from JPL).

207 blueraven  Jun 28, 2014 11:11:08am

re: #205 Justanotherhuman

You don’t think that will still go on, the illegal dealing? I do, not just in other drugs but in pot, too.

Even if I lived there and smoked pot on a regular basis, the store prices are far too high for me to afford.

So, I expect that people without the kind of disposable income you need for it will still try to keep their cost down by buying from their normal source if it’s much cheaper, for instance, $50 for 1/8 in the store, or $50 for 1/4 on the street? They’re probably not interested in the edibles or other fancy products, either.

I would think the price of illicit sales would go up as well. Also, if I were going to purchase illegally I would consider the cost of getting caught.
Much more than the few bucks you might save. Plus, choice!

208 Belafon  Jun 28, 2014 11:13:41am

re: #205 Justanotherhuman
But this is where the free market comes in. By ending the artificial shortage, prices have dropped so much that the cartels are getting out of marijuana. Eventually, prices will reach near bottom if there are enough suppliers.

209 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jun 28, 2014 11:16:54am

re: #205 Justanotherhuman

You don’t think that will still go on, the illegal dealing? I do, not just in other drugs but in pot, too.

No, or rather, yes, to the extent there’s illegal dealing now in alchohol and tobacco. What’s your point?

Even if I lived there and smoked pot on a regular basis, the store prices are far too high for me to afford.

Er, the store prices are far cheaper than street prices.

So, I expect that people without the kind of disposable income you need for it will still try to keep their cost down by buying from their normal source if it’s much cheaper, for instance, $50 for 1/8 in the store, or $50 for 1/4 on the street? They’re probably not interested in the edibles or other fancy products, either.

Again, the store price is cheaper.

210 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 11:19:08am

re: #195 Justanotherhuman

I thought pot users weren’t violent.

I don’t think legalization has anything to do with that statistic unless you think users of other drugs, like meth, are giving them up and switching.

Pot smokers are not violent. But like many fallacies, try to explain that to someone who has been sold the whole “all drugs are evil” type of thinking.

Also, tons of people don’t realize the synthetic script drugs like Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and others are real opiates. Or even something like Novocaine comes from cocaine.

We had a county coroner that upon retirement made a big statement in the local news when he said he found prescription drugs much more a problem than any street drugs. This was in the early 90s when at the height of the crack cocaine, powder cocaine, etc. drug wars on the streets. He said he saw more people on his slab from deaths by overuse of doctor prescribed medications than heroin. He caught all kinds of hell for saying it too.

And many people always forget…pot and even cocaine were not illegal at one time. There was a lot of politicizing that changed all that.

I don’t know all the history, but I thought I’ve read where William Randolph Hearst had much to do with some of the drug terror campaigns and movies like Reefer Madness that helped make them both illegal. he would have had the money and the newspapers to do a pretty thorough scare campaign.

211 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 11:24:02am

re: #202 Killgore Trout

I was a big Zappa fan as a kid but never really understood Captain Beefheart, he just never appealed to me for some reason. Over the past couple years I’ve really learned to appreciate him and how underrated he is today. You can hear Beefheart’s influence on Tom Waits, Les Claypool, Beck and tons of other artists.
Captain Beefheart Full Documentary

[Embedded content]

Video

And one hell of a painter. That is a good documentary.

212 Justanotherhuman  Jun 28, 2014 11:26:43am

re: #210 ObserverArt

Pot smokers are not violent. But like many fallacies, try to explain that to someone who has been sold the whole “all drugs are evil” type of thinking.

Also, tons of people don’t realize the synthetic script drugs like Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and others are real opiates. Or even something like Novocaine comes from cocaine.

We had a county coroner that upon retirement made a big statement in the local news when he said he found prescription drugs much more a problem than any street drugs. This was in the early 90s when at the height of the crack cocaine, powder cocaine, etc. drug wars on the streets. He said he saw more people on his slab from deaths by overuse of doctor prescribed medications than heroin. He caught all kinds of hell for saying it too.

And many people always forget…pot and even cocaine were not illegal at one time. There was a lot of politicizing that changed all that.

I don’t know all the history, but I thought I’ve read where William Randolph Hearst had much to do with some of the drug terror campaigns and movies like Reefer Madness that helped make them both illegal. he would have had the money and the newspapers to do a pretty thorough scare campaign.

Yeah, I get all that.

But I’m not sure that legalizing any drug is going to change people’s minds a whole lot, except perhaps over time. Even pot is associated with the “drug culture”. Therefore, they can justify oxycontin and others because they’re “legal” and “pharmaceuticals” (not your possibly contaminated street drugs).

214 Varek Raith  Jun 28, 2014 11:27:24am

SCIENCE.
ustream.tv

215 TedStriker  Jun 28, 2014 11:29:40am

re: #201 wrenchwench

Ooh, pretty. Also: CHEMTRAILZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!1!

[Embedded content]

As a Scouter who’s been on treks at Philmont four times in the past 21 years and has had friends who have been on staff there, I get real nervous when there are fires, even small ones, at our close to the ranch.

At least, this one is out now and they’re just mopping up.

216 blueraven  Jun 28, 2014 11:32:56am

Interesting

ft.com

Turkey’s ruling party has signalled it is ready to accept an independent Kurdish state in what is now northern Iraq, marking a historic shift by one of the heavyweight powers of the Middle East.
“In the past an independent Kurdish state was a reason for war [for Turkey] but no one has the right to say this now,” Huseyin Celik, spokesman for the ruling AK party, told the Financial Times.

217 Lidane  Jun 28, 2014 11:33:18am

re: #215 TedStriker

As a Scouter who’s been on treks at Philmont four times in the past 21 years, I get real nervous when there are fires, even small ones, at our close to the ranch.

At least, this one is out now and they’re just mopping up.

I had never even heard of Philmont until my best friend got married. Her husband has been involved with scouts forever, and he’s been there a few times .

218 De Kolta Chair  Jun 28, 2014 11:34:46am

Last night, the wife cooked her delicious lemon chicken, but damn those folding oven racks are a pain to wash, especially with a hangover. I’d include a photo, but I’m exhausted.

219 ObserverArt  Jun 28, 2014 11:37:54am

Wow…Chile almost got a goal…except for the post.

220 Feline Fearless Leader  Jun 28, 2014 11:40:51am

re: #219 ObserverArt

Wow…Chile almost got a goal…except for the post.

Crossbar is the goalie’s best friend.

221 Feline Fearless Leader  Jun 28, 2014 11:41:26am

And Chile-Brazil has gone to penalty kicks.

222 Killgore Trout  Jun 28, 2014 11:41:42am

re: #216 blueraven

Interesting

[Embedded content]

ft.com

It is an interesting development. I guess the Turks see it as a way to pacify the Kurds, Iran and Syria see it as a way to fight ISIS. Israel would love to have a reliable ally in the region. The only people not excited about the idea are Iraq and US. It looks like a good idea to me. The Kurds are the only ones in Iraq who have their shit together, let them have their own function state instead of being held back by the Shia and Sunni squabble.

223 BeachDem  Jun 28, 2014 11:47:39am

re: #194 ObserverArt

Nope—got sick of shoveling snow! But I’m guessing we might know each other in a former life, as I was involved in advertising in Columbus for many years.

224 blueraven  Jun 28, 2014 11:50:36am

re: #222 Killgore Trout

It is an interesting development. I guess the Turks see it as a way to pacify the Kurds, Iran and Syria see it as a way to fight ISIS. Israel would love to have a reliable ally in the region. The only people not excited about the idea are Iraq and US. It looks like a good idea to me. The Kurds are the only ones in Iraq who have their shit together, let them have their own function state instead of being held back by the Shia and Sunni squabble.

Let’s see what Cheney thinks. //

225 Killgore Trout  Jun 28, 2014 11:58:26am

re: #224 blueraven

Let’s see what Cheney thinks. //

Heh. Of course the wingnuts opinion is irrelevant. It’s even questionable if Obama has enough influence to make a difference. I suspect this is out of our control at this point. We”l see what happens with the plans to oust Maliki but I’m not hopeful.

226 blueraven  Jun 28, 2014 12:18:27pm

re: #225 Killgore Trout

Heh. Of course the wingnuts opinion is irrelevant. It’s even questionable if Obama has enough influence to make a difference. I suspect this is out of our control at this point. We”l see what happens with the plans to oust Maliki but I’m not hopeful.

I agree, Cheney’s opinion is irrelevant. However, he will be pushing it nonetheless.

This has got to be settled by the Iraqis in the end. We can help diplomatically and perhaps in a military advisory position, but we have to have a very light footprint there.

227 Khal Wimpo  Jun 28, 2014 12:33:05pm

re: #161 Gus

It was only when I started working at a job that brought me into contact with high-ranking law enforcement in California that I realized the extent to which the state is owned and operated by the prison guard’s union. All those little pissant counties in Northern Cal, some with only 15,000 people total, they all have prisons in them that are basically the only source of middle-class jerrbs. And all those counties send State Senators down to Sacto, who vote exactly how the prison guard’s union tells them to.

Thus the absurd, counterproductive, heinously expensive Three Strikes Law. And the total gutting of any kind of rehabilitation (cuts down on repeat customers, doncha know). And the absurd pension and benefits structure.

We got involved in a crazy, convoluted overtime investigation. Seems the law sez that certain overcrowding conditions automatically trigger time-and-a-half for the guards. So the unions set up a “shell game” with the prisons. They’d take docile old lifers, load them up in school buses, and cart them around from prison to prison. They’d arrive at Chino at a certain date, and bingo! Overtime for all the guards. The prisoners would stay there a week, and then get loaded up and moved to another prison to trigger the extra pay.

Totally corrupt. But say a word against it and you get painted as “soft on crime” by blanket TV ads in your district.

228 KerFuFFler  Jun 28, 2014 1:21:54pm

re: #227 Khal Wimpo

Very interesting!

229 William Barnett-Lewis  Jun 28, 2014 1:54:35pm

re: #216 blueraven

Interesting

[Embedded content]

ft.com

Beyond interesting. If true that´s a real breakthrough in the region.

230 Varek Raith  Jun 28, 2014 2:01:14pm

re: #225 Killgore Trout

You, and a lot of Americans, made the assumption that we had control in the first place. We did not.

231 Eventual Carrion  Jun 28, 2014 4:14:36pm

re: #216 blueraven

Interesting

[Embedded content]

ft.com

I support a Kurdish state. They have been getting kicked around as a people for a long time.

232 Green Alien  Jun 30, 2014 11:13:04am

re: #5 Charles Johnson

Much better work than the original photoshop!
Beautiful!


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