Saturday, March 31, 2012
Bill Maher and Guests Discuss Trayvon
Quote: "if the shoe were on the other foot, and you had a black kid who said, 'I'm just wandering around my neighborhood with a gun and I saw a white guy and I didn't think he belonged here so I shot him,' there's no way that kid would be walking around -- he'd be in jail, period."
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Murder of Trayvon Martin
This story's been around for quite a while now, and there have been so many new developments as well as downright lies, I think it's time I wrote about it.
In case there's anybody on the planet who hasn't yet heard, it's the story of a 17 year old kid who was walking home to his father's house in a gated community in Sanford, near Orlando, when he was shot to death by a self-proclaimed neighborhood watch captain for appearing to be "up to no good."
Why is this case so riveting? It's more than a typical murder case. It's about a ridiculous law (Stand Your Ground) in Florida that has allowed many people to literally get away with murder in the short time it's existed. It's about a total lack of justice. It's about a racist killer who's condemned by his own words. It's about a corrupt police department that lets an admitted killer walk free.
Here are the facts:
Yet the victim, Trayvon Martin, had a blood, alcohol and drug test done. That's right -- they tested the victim's corpse, but not the murderer.
Welcome to Florida.
The rightwing media ignored the story for weeks until it could no longer. Once they were forced to cover it, they had to find the right spin to make it appeal to their far rightwing bigoted base. Voila! Zimmerman, the vigilante murderer, is now the victim and the kid who was shot for walking while black with skittles is magically the attacker.
The last couple of days the far rightwing haters have been trying
desperately to demonize Trayvon by posting a FAKE pic of Trayvon
looking "menacing", pointing to irrelevant minor transgressions like
being suspended (as if that's a reason for execution) and a distant
acquaintance pretending to be a "close friend" who mysteriously quit
his job to run around defending this guy in the media. That's the
fishiest part of the story lately.
This guy's name is Joe Oliver, and he's been making the rounds on every network acting as a "close friend" and spokesperson for Zimmerman. Every show has accepted him at his word for some reason, giving him only softball questions. Every show, that is, until he appeared on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell last night on msnbc. We found out last night that Oliver barely knew Zimmerman, and has spoken to him only once in the last 6 weeks. Oliver could not explain the weird situation that arose when he quit his job to become spokesperson for a guy he barely knew. Why would he do that? Who's paying him? What's his real connection to Zimmerman?
WATCH the two part grilling he gets from Lawrence O'Donnell and NY Times reporter Charles Blow. It's 30 minutes long but well worth it.
As the Zimmerman apologists and rightwing defenders continue to spin their stories, we hear that Trayvon is the aggressor, and during a scuffle with Zimmerman, knocks him to the ground, breaks his nose, and repeatedly bashes his head against the ground.
Now take a look below at the exclusive ABC NEWS surveillance tape of Zimmerman getting out of the police car at the Sanford police department. The tape shows Zimmerman in handcuffs, though not under arrest, the night of the shooting. Notice what's missing. There's no bloody or broken nose. No wounds or blood on the back of his head can be seen. He walks with no problem whatsoever. No stumbling. Nothing showing a man who allegedly was in distress. The tape below is supposed to show a man who had just been in a life-or-death situation that forced him to pull the trigger and kill a 17-year-old kid to allegedly save his own life.
If you had your nose broken and your head repeatedly bashed on the ground, would you appear as normal as Zimmerman appears in this video?
With every passing day, and every new detail that comes out, this looks more and more like a huge load of crap and a coverup.
In case there's anybody on the planet who hasn't yet heard, it's the story of a 17 year old kid who was walking home to his father's house in a gated community in Sanford, near Orlando, when he was shot to death by a self-proclaimed neighborhood watch captain for appearing to be "up to no good."Why is this case so riveting? It's more than a typical murder case. It's about a ridiculous law (Stand Your Ground) in Florida that has allowed many people to literally get away with murder in the short time it's existed. It's about a total lack of justice. It's about a racist killer who's condemned by his own words. It's about a corrupt police department that lets an admitted killer walk free.
Here are the facts:
- This self-proclaimed "crime watch captain" is not a member of any crime watch organization and not a captain. He's not a cop. He's not a security guard. He's a delusional cop-wannabe. (People who actually are crime watch members know they are not to be armed. They know they are not to pursue anyone or create a confrontation. They know they have zero power, are not cops and are not to shoot anyone. They know that if they see a crime -- not a kid walking down the street -- they are to call the cops and then mind their business.)
- The kid was unarmed.
- Zimmerman, the vigilante murderer, was armed and was NOT supposed to be.
- He instantly decided Trayvon was "up to no good" -- his words -- based on the fact that Trayvon was walking down the street while black, talking on the phone and wearing a hoodie.
- He was a known chronic caller to the cops, having called 55 times since January.
- The police dispatcher specifically told him not to confront or pursue the kid. That's the job of professionals. He disobeyed. He got out of his truck and went after the kid on foot.
- His racist hatred was exposed by his own words on tape ("these assholes always get away"); ("fuckin' coons"). His defenders can't erase the tape or pretend they were "words of endearment" as his bizarre mouthpiece actually said with a straight face yesterday (more on Joe Oliver below).
- There is known corruption in the Sanford PD. The son of one of its cops was taped beating up a homeless guy. Nothing was done. In the Trayvon case they botched, they took samples of the VICTIM but not the murderer. No police dept in the country would be so unprofessional or stupid.
- Zimmerman had been arrested for battery on a cop a few years ago. He was ordered to attend anger-management classes.
- Zimmerman was known to be abusive to his girlfriend. Two years after being arrested for battery on a cop, he was hit with a restraining order.
- The lead homicide investigator wanted to arrest Zimmerman for manslaughter -- but the state attorney said no.
Yet the victim, Trayvon Martin, had a blood, alcohol and drug test done. That's right -- they tested the victim's corpse, but not the murderer.
Welcome to Florida.
The rightwing media ignored the story for weeks until it could no longer. Once they were forced to cover it, they had to find the right spin to make it appeal to their far rightwing bigoted base. Voila! Zimmerman, the vigilante murderer, is now the victim and the kid who was shot for walking while black with skittles is magically the attacker.
This guy's name is Joe Oliver, and he's been making the rounds on every network acting as a "close friend" and spokesperson for Zimmerman. Every show has accepted him at his word for some reason, giving him only softball questions. Every show, that is, until he appeared on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell last night on msnbc. We found out last night that Oliver barely knew Zimmerman, and has spoken to him only once in the last 6 weeks. Oliver could not explain the weird situation that arose when he quit his job to become spokesperson for a guy he barely knew. Why would he do that? Who's paying him? What's his real connection to Zimmerman?
WATCH the two part grilling he gets from Lawrence O'Donnell and NY Times reporter Charles Blow. It's 30 minutes long but well worth it.
As the Zimmerman apologists and rightwing defenders continue to spin their stories, we hear that Trayvon is the aggressor, and during a scuffle with Zimmerman, knocks him to the ground, breaks his nose, and repeatedly bashes his head against the ground.
Now take a look below at the exclusive ABC NEWS surveillance tape of Zimmerman getting out of the police car at the Sanford police department. The tape shows Zimmerman in handcuffs, though not under arrest, the night of the shooting. Notice what's missing. There's no bloody or broken nose. No wounds or blood on the back of his head can be seen. He walks with no problem whatsoever. No stumbling. Nothing showing a man who allegedly was in distress. The tape below is supposed to show a man who had just been in a life-or-death situation that forced him to pull the trigger and kill a 17-year-old kid to allegedly save his own life.
If you had your nose broken and your head repeatedly bashed on the ground, would you appear as normal as Zimmerman appears in this video?
With every passing day, and every new detail that comes out, this looks more and more like a huge load of crap and a coverup.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Who Won Super Tuesday? President Obama
I couldn't be happier with the Regressives' turnout and results last night.
Willard dog-on-roof Romney is closer to getting the nomination for the Regressive party, but the win wasn't definitive, so the hair pulling and mud wrestling continue for our entertainment!
Newton Grinch won a single state but his massive ego, combined with his desperation in knowing that this is the last chance for this fat, elderly, hopeless little man will keep him in the race. That will splinter off enough far rightwing votes from Little Ricky man-on-dog Santorum to keep him behind Willard.
And every state has had far fewer Regressive voters than those who turned out 4 years ago. They are bored and can't stand any of their cartoonish choices, so they're not even bothering to vote in the primaries.
So Newton sticks around a little longer and tries to win a few of the upcoming southern states, funded by a single billionaire sugar-daddy, Sheldon Adelson.
Pope Santorum grabs a small handful of delegates and continues to battle the robotic flip flopper from Massachusetts.
And Willard will eventually limp, bruised and battered, across the finish line, only to have to begin battling President Obama.
You almost have to feel sorry for him.
I DID say "almost."
Willard dog-on-roof Romney is closer to getting the nomination for the Regressive party, but the win wasn't definitive, so the hair pulling and mud wrestling continue for our entertainment!
Newton Grinch won a single state but his massive ego, combined with his desperation in knowing that this is the last chance for this fat, elderly, hopeless little man will keep him in the race. That will splinter off enough far rightwing votes from Little Ricky man-on-dog Santorum to keep him behind Willard.
And every state has had far fewer Regressive voters than those who turned out 4 years ago. They are bored and can't stand any of their cartoonish choices, so they're not even bothering to vote in the primaries.
So Newton sticks around a little longer and tries to win a few of the upcoming southern states, funded by a single billionaire sugar-daddy, Sheldon Adelson.
Pope Santorum grabs a small handful of delegates and continues to battle the robotic flip flopper from Massachusetts.
And Willard will eventually limp, bruised and battered, across the finish line, only to have to begin battling President Obama.
You almost have to feel sorry for him.
I DID say "almost."
Friday, March 2, 2012
Good Riddance, Andrew Breitbart
A far rightwing blogger and rabble rouser died yesterday.
Andrew Breitbart was only 43 years old. It's always a shame when someone dies at such an early age, because there are people left behind who cared about them.
That having been said, let's remember that this man purposely and vengefully attempted to destroy the career of Shirley Sherrod, Georgia Director of Rural Development of the USDA, by twisting and editing her words in such a way that she ended up appearing to say something that was exactly the opposite of what she was actually saying, making her look like a racist. She was forced to resign because of the controversy.
This is the man who purposely and vengefully publicly posted compromising photos of NY Representative Anthony Weiner, thereby destroying his career in politics, despite the fact that Weiner did absolutely nothing illegal.
This is also the man who purposely and vengefully worked to destroy ACORN, an advocacy group that supported the needs and rights of low income families. He used bad actors, props and dishonest editing to make the group appear crooked and sinister.
Wikipedia states that four different independent investigations by various state and city Attorneys General and the GAO released in 2009 and 2010 cleared ACORN, finding its employees had not engaged in criminal activities and that the organization had managed its federal funding appropriately, and calling the videos deceptively and selectively edited to present the workers in the worst possible light. Despite this, by March 2010, 15 of ACORN's 30 state chapters had already closed and the group announced it was closing its remaining state chapters and disbanding.
The day after Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died, Little Andrew called him a "pile of human excrement."
If a well-loved Senator -- like Ted Kennedy, who spent decades fighting for working Americans -- can be disparaged one day after his death, why should any respect be given to a despicable guy like this, who did nothing but destroy anybody in his path?
This man managed to harbor more hate, contempt, and anger in 43 years than most people accumulate in a lifetime. He didn't care who he destroyed in his vile, desperate quest for constant attention. He will not be missed.
Andrew Breitbart was only 43 years old. It's always a shame when someone dies at such an early age, because there are people left behind who cared about them.That having been said, let's remember that this man purposely and vengefully attempted to destroy the career of Shirley Sherrod, Georgia Director of Rural Development of the USDA, by twisting and editing her words in such a way that she ended up appearing to say something that was exactly the opposite of what she was actually saying, making her look like a racist. She was forced to resign because of the controversy.
This is the man who purposely and vengefully publicly posted compromising photos of NY Representative Anthony Weiner, thereby destroying his career in politics, despite the fact that Weiner did absolutely nothing illegal.
This is also the man who purposely and vengefully worked to destroy ACORN, an advocacy group that supported the needs and rights of low income families. He used bad actors, props and dishonest editing to make the group appear crooked and sinister.
Wikipedia states that four different independent investigations by various state and city Attorneys General and the GAO released in 2009 and 2010 cleared ACORN, finding its employees had not engaged in criminal activities and that the organization had managed its federal funding appropriately, and calling the videos deceptively and selectively edited to present the workers in the worst possible light. Despite this, by March 2010, 15 of ACORN's 30 state chapters had already closed and the group announced it was closing its remaining state chapters and disbanding.
The day after Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died, Little Andrew called him a "pile of human excrement."
If a well-loved Senator -- like Ted Kennedy, who spent decades fighting for working Americans -- can be disparaged one day after his death, why should any respect be given to a despicable guy like this, who did nothing but destroy anybody in his path?
This man managed to harbor more hate, contempt, and anger in 43 years than most people accumulate in a lifetime. He didn't care who he destroyed in his vile, desperate quest for constant attention. He will not be missed.
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