Charles Pierce: Realizing Mass Shootings Neither Unspeakable nor Unthinkable.

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday July 25, 2015 · 9:19 AM PDT

2015/07/25 · 09:19

In response to LA Gov. Jindahl's abhorrence of a terrible, unspeakable, unthinkable,highly unexpected event, Charles Pierce proffers a first step toward rational gun policy: facing the facts:

the two words that I think should be eliminated from the dictionary when dealing with another mass shooting are "unspeakable" and "unthinkable," because quite honestly, if at this point you cannot think about how one of these things happens, then you haven't been paying attention. And if we don't speak about it, then they're going to keep on happening.

Which should/would compel:

someone to make the argument as honestly as possible that one of these shootings every two weeks is the price we pay for our freedom in this country. I want someone... I don't want both of those divorced any more. I want one of the people opposed to sensible gun laws, to please make that argument that this is just something we have to take as a population, because we have a Second Amendment. The honesty would be refreshing at this point.

http://crooksandliars.com/...=

Chris Dickey on the Confederacy and the Flag (Great).

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday July 21, 2015 · 1:48 PM PDT

2015/07/21 · 13:48

This interview was supposed to be about a British spy in the south during the Civil War. It turned into something else.

“I think people totally misunderstood, and misunderstand, what that battle flag has come to represent. When Robert E. Lee, whose battle flag it was, surrendered at Appomattox, that battle flag was furled and the war was over for him. That flag came out again with a vengeance as a reaction to the civil rights movement, starting in the ’40s and building through the ’50s and ’60s. That was not a flag honoring the Civil War dead. That was a flag to say ‘no’ to civil rights. That was held up in defiance by white people for white people in memory of people who didn’t die for the most part defending slavery. They were sucked into the war by the elite slave owners. But once the war was started, they were dying to protect their homes and families, they thought. That’s what they were dying for. But the flag – that flag – that’s all about racism.”

* * *

“We do have to understand that hundreds of thousands of men and women died in the South in that war because they were led into it by an elite that was protecting its own very narrow interests using its money, its power over the press, its power over the courts and its power of propaganda generally to do that. And then we have to say, were those people complete fools? No, they were deluded like people who are led into war all the time – many wars, even wars that have been fought in the last few years. So I think we just have to say, ‘Look, they fought bravely, they died bravely, in many cases. They died for the wrong cause, but we shouldn’t insult their memories just because some racists in the 1950s and ’60s wanted to wave one of their flags.”

https://hereandnow.wbur.org/...

#thisisacoup

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday July 12, 2015 · 3:55 PM PDT

2015/07/12 · 15:55

No one else writing about. Big time trending/calling out going out over at twitter.

Everyone's coming to the same conclusion, that what is happening between the Greek's and troika is a neo-iiberal attempt to overthrow democracy.

See Krugman here: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/...

Jim Morrision or Brian Wilson. Who Is Better?

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday June 27, 2015 · 2:38 PM PDT

2015/06/27 · 14:38

Dull day working on work stuff. So, as a distraction, thought I'd open this one up for debate.

Jim Morrison, son of a conservative army general and southern california resident.

Brian Wilson, son of a conservative whatever and orange county resident.

Who do you like better? Who was the better artist? Who will have the longer legacy?

Back At The Beach & Back In Black. A Report from Santa Barbara Shores

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday June 18, 2015 · 8:42 PM PDT

2015/06/18 · 20:42

So, I went back to the beach just north of Santa Barbara today. I was actually a little surprised. The beach is not clean at all. And there is still an oily smell. Mind you, this is not either of the beaches that were closed, El Capitan and Refugio. This is much further south (10-20 miles) in North Goleta, what is called Santa Barbara Shores County Park/Ellwood Beach.

I was shocked by what I saw. There were like these blacks strands of what looked like glass chips, and numerous blobs of oil amongst them. On closer inspection, the strands are actually little oil chips or blobs. The strands continue along the beach pretty much continuously. I have been going to this beach for many years and while there was always a little beach tar, I have never seen anything like this. And this is supposed to be a beach not even effected by the spill.

It looks to me that stuff is still washing ashore and I am not talking about a little bit of stuff. I would advise everyone to stay out of the water there.

I've got about another 11 photos, but won't post them unless someone asks. They are mostly worse than the one above, having bigger blobs of oil.

I'll be contacting Sen. Boxer (Feinstein is useless, but that's another story), Congr. Capps and some Co. Supervisors about this tomorrow. They need to get someone out here and clean this up and monitor if oil is still coming out of the water, I think.

Some Thoughts on Ben Carson

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday May 09, 2015 · 8:48 AM PDT

2015/05/09 · 08:48

"I do have a lot of experience in solving problems - complex surgical problems - that have never been done by anybody before."

This is Ben Carson's rationale for suggesting that though he lacks any political experience, he is qualified to be the president of the country.

Can you fix my car?

Can you build my home?

Can you plumb my sink?

Why do successful people in one sphere think this qualifies them not only to opine on political matters, but actually think they are qualified to be politicians?

Why do elites think they know best when all evidence indicates they are wrong and are destroying this country and this planet?

Just some thoughts.

Everything You Need To Know About Netanyahu

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 02, 2015 · 4:01 PM PST

2015/03/02 · 16:01

Listen to his speech to Congress in 2002 in support of attacking Iraq.

http://harryshearer.com/...

Click the link at 46:15.

That is all.

FCC Nullifies State Laws Preempting Local Internet Service

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday February 26, 2015 · 8:48 AM PST

2015/02/26 · 08:48

No one's talking about this, but it has huge potential. The FCC has nullified state regulations which limit local internet service--City's provision of high speed internet to their citizens, for instance. Internet service providers had unleashed cadres of lobbyists upon state legislatures to enact legislation that preempts local laws. This has meant that cities could not regulate their ISPs and otherwise compete with them by installing their own systems.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/...

The change means Cities that wish to provide competition to local monopolies may now do so--but it appears they need to petition the FCC independently to do it.

IOW, thanks to huge and organic movement of the people to pressure the FCC (and the Obama administration) to require net neutrality, we may also get meaningful internet competition or, indeed, free local wireless service if localities so desire.

Scathing NYT Editorial on the NYPD

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday January 06, 2015 · 7:05 PM PST

2015/01/06 · 19:05

Mayor Bill de Blasio has been in office barely a year, and already forces of entropy are roaming the streets, turning their backs on the law, defying civil authority and trying to unravel the social fabric.

So begins the brilliantly ironical NYT op-ed of today regarding the NY Petulance Department. Or as the NYT characterizes it the Dept. of "sullen insubordination."

No, not squeegee-men or turnstile-jumpers. We’re talking about the cops.

http://www.nytimes.com/...

And they end ballsy:

If the Police Department’s current commanders cannot get the cops to do their jobs, Mr. de Blasio should consider replacing them. He should invite the Justice Department to determine if the police are guilty of civil rights violations in withdrawing policing from minority communities. He should remind the police that they are public employees, under oath to uphold city and state laws.

My democratic Speech To The People of KY (And Elsewhere)

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday November 04, 2014 · 9:34 AM PST

2014/11/04 · 09:34

In the day of the 30 second campaign ad, people tend to think that voting is like buying deodorant. I am not going to play that game. It's time for some hard truth and some learning. Time to learn to be a citizen and not a consumer.

The consumer candidate is there for you. His name is triple chin. If you vote for him, unless you are a banker or otherwise rich, you vote against your interest when you vote for him.

In the 21st century, when you cast your vote, you have to ask why? Because if you don't, you're liable to vote for someone whose base desire is to steal your home, make you turn to debt, not provide your kids a decent education and not to provide you the health care you need and to make you think long an hard about accessing it before you do.

You may well note these candidates by the way they play on your fear rather than what will help you and your family. But in the 21st century, know that when you vote your fears rather than your hopes, it is you who will suffer for it. And it will not help your hate.

The message of the neo-liberals and the anti-neoliberals will be the same in this century. If you are a fool, you will be taken for one. The difference is the former want to keep you foolish, fearful consumers and the latter ask you to think, plan and be citizens. Time to stop being fools.

FGOTV, Tell Me What Your Govt Stands For

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 02, 2014 · 12:15 PM PST

2014/11/02 · 12:15

http://finance.yahoo.com/...

The US government agreed to shut down several miles of airspace surrounding Ferguson, Missouri, even though the main purpose was to keep news helicopters away during the protests, according to audio recordings obtained by The Associated Press. (Nov. 2)

Onion Opines on Pros & Cons of Militarizing Police

Publius2008

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday August 19, 2014 · 2:20 PM PDT

2014/08/19 · 14:20

This should provoke some thought:

The ongoing clashes between residents of Ferguson, MO and heavily armed police forces—which are equipped with M16 rifles and armored vehicles—have drawn attention to the increasing militarization of police in the United States. Here are the cases for and against outfitting local law enforcement with military-grade weapons:
PROS

Same tactics used successfully in Afghanistan, Iraq
Modern law enforcement simply cannot do their job properly by relying on handguns, tasers, and tear gas alone
A real shot in arm for nation’s ailing weapons industry
Look on driver’s face when tank pulls up beside Mini Cooper always fun
Local photojournalists now able to capture fog of war at home
Nice surprise treat for veterans to see weapons they used in war pop up on their hometown streets
Never a bad idea to put a more powerful gun in someone’s hand
Actually going to seem pretty quaint when compared with police armaments 20 years from now

CONS

Most police officers have proven fully capable of violently subduing protesters without any military-grade weapons
It actually very hard to recite Miranda rights while holding 40-pound grenade launcher
There no longer any middle ground between community watch and military
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles only get 5 miles per gallon
Jesus, just look at this shit
Military-style helmets limit peripheral vision while firing indiscriminately into crowd
Could potentially be abused if put in lesser hands than America’s historically honest and virtuous police departments
Takes away that personal touch of beating a suspect to death with bare hands

http://www.theonion.com/...

Newer
Older

RSS