Racially Coded Concern

Whenever conservatives like Glenn Beck attempt to show concern in regards to individual states or cities lack of funding or that certain municipalities have to make cuts in specific areas, rest assured that they are going to seriously skew the facts.



Aside from Beck's theatrics and the obviously tilted nature of his choices for what should be cut from the budgets of the cities he highlights, one thing became immediately apparent to me - each of these cities have more than a 50% black population. I mean, after all, nothing says that a city is more dangerous or that a population is more ill-educated than when it's pointed out that there are black people in your neighborhood. This should be glaringly obvious to even the most novice among cable news watchers, as Beck made it a point to showcase one specific region of St. Louis rather than the entire city.

And while it is a sad fact that educational funding is cut before anything else in times of financial crisis, I find it rather disingenuous that Beck is insisting that this is something that is exclusive to Democratic leadership. After all, one has but to look at how Chris Christie is handling New Jersey and you'll see right away that conservatives don't really care as much about teachers as Beck wants us to think.

Standard Operating Procedure

Much has been made of the Tea Bagger protest at Quincy, IL.

Tea Party protesters in Quincy, Illinois who did not follow a Secret Service agent's orders were met with 15 police officers dressed in riot gear Wednesday, according to a local newspaper report.

The Quincy Herald-Whig reported that the tense moment happened when protesters, who were marching toward the location where President Obama was speaking, did not obey a Secret Service agent's orders to move to the other side of the street.

When the crowd didn't move and began singing "God Bless, America" and the national anthem, Quincy Deputy Police Chief Ron Dreyer called for members of the Mobile Field Force to walk up the street.

The officers, mainly from Metro East departments near St. Louis and dressed in full body armor, marched from the east and stood on the south side of York facing the protesters.

There was no physical contact, and the officers did not come close to the crowd, but there were catcalls and more than a few upset tea party members, including a woman who shouted, "This is communism!"

Purse-lipped, conservative, prattle-box Michelle Malkin foamed at the mouth as if this were some display of Marshall law, but it was simply standard operating procedure consider the President was within proximity of the protest.

Here's the video.



Not a SWAT team, just police in riot gear. Nothing out of the ordinary, as they are dispatched in the same fashion and with the same gear everytime a situation like this ( or worse ) is reported. After all, the fire department isn't going to show up in khakis and a t-shirt if your ADT alarm goes off because of a small grease fire in your kitchen, why should we expect anything less from a police department.

While Malkin and the Fox"Nation" frame this as an orchestrated show of force from inside the administration against a few old ladies, I find that more than just a little difficult to swallow. But, such is the conservative message creation machine. We can't have the people receiving accurate information, can we. After all, when Bush was in office, the Secret Service and local law enforcement forced protesters to remain in caged areas several blocks away from where he was speaking.

Considering the hate and violent rhetoric from the Tea Baggers, I'm sure that the Secret Service isn't taking any chances, regardless of where they are and who is protesting.

The Reality Of Celebrity

This will be the one and only posting I make about Tiger Woods.

For those of us able to see past the endorsements, the slightly elevated skill level in a sport that - from my point of view - requires little "skill" to begin with, and the overall aura of "majesty" that the media at large has place on this man, Tiger Woods is no more important than any man in any "sport".

Having said that, and having heard the 911 call, and having learned that he refused - yes, REFUSED - to be interviewed by police, I have to say that this man has actually managed to become more of a pathetic piece of work that I initially thought.

And while I am not alone in this, let me just say that this is born out of his overall attitude and lack of professionalism on multiple levels. But certainly, one is likely to be overcome with a sense of megalomania once the media latches onto you.

But let's just see what happens when the average American refuses to be quesitoned by police. It's certainly not going to play out the way it did with Woods.

All the media apologists need to get their priorities in line when it comes to something like this. He will have to pay for what he has done, period. The world will continue whether his wife stays with him or not. There are far more important things in this world than celebrity.

Two Actors Walk Into A Louisiana Bar....

Apparently the wrap-party for Oliver Stone's newest film "W" ( guess who it's about ) didn't end too well for two of the guys there:

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) -- Police said Wednesday they have video of a bar brawl in which members of a crew filming an Oliver Stone movie - including actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright - were arrested.

Police Chief Henry Whitehorn told The Times of Shreveport he is reviewing the case and will submit it to the city prosecutor's office, which will decide whether to proceed with charges.

Police said they have video from patrol car cameras and audio from officers' microphones but would not elaborate on their contents.

Brolin, Wright and five crew members of the Oliver Stone film "W." were arrested Saturday on misdemeanor charges at the Stray Cat Club.

Brolin, who plays President Bush in the film, and Wright, who plays retired Gen. Colin Powell, are charged with interfering with police. Each posted a bond of $384, according to court records.

More here from TheOrange County Register




Apparently, the video shows Wright being repeatedly tasered while the officers scream - well, you know.

Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright, who were arrested this past weekend at a Shreveport, La. bar, were pepper sprayed and tased by cops. And, we're told, police went on a vulgar rant -- and portions were caught on cell phone video.


The incident occurred during a wrap party for Oliver Stone's movie "W" about the Prez. Local station KTBS reports and TMZ sources say Wright, who plays Colin Powell, was repeatedly tasered and pepper sprayed as he lay prone on his stomach in the street. We know witnesses heard the officers using extremely foul language, including the "N" word, directed at Wright.

Our sources say Brolin was observed by witnesses attempting to make peace and standing still as he was repeatedly sprayed in the eyes by cops.

So, if witness statements are true, and the video shows this as well, are we going to see some police officers losing their job, or are we going to see some police officers on "administrative leave pending a further investigation"?

The later usually means that the department is going to try and bog this down as much as possible until people forget about it and then reinstate the officers with full pay.

Considering we're talking about Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright ( and by proxy - Oliver Stone ) I'd say this is not going to be looking so good for some Louisiana officers.