Is Ted Cruz Satan? Discuss.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Can we all be naked?

This would have been a fine question to ask of this board a decade ago. Today, seems like less of a plus.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

This would have been a fine question to ask of this board a decade ago. Today, seems like less of a plus.

I thought that made it funnier.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Okay, so if I understand police criticism of DeBlasio and Obama stemming from the murder of the two officers over the weekend correctly, it is:

1. The Mayor criticized the killing of a man for selling cigarettes, an act even many conservatives defined as murder;
2. The Mayor raised concerns regarding a stop and frisk racial profiling program which is likely unconstitutional;
3. A grand jury inexplicably, in what appears to be a racist nullification, refused to indict the cop who murdered the guy selling smokes (which officer is being investigated for other abuse allegations involving minorities);
4. Following the non-indictment, the Mayor came out and plead for calm;
5. A clinically diagnosed psychopath murdered two police officers, allegedly in retaliation for the non-indictment (and because he's fucking crazy); and so...

This is all the Mayor's and Obama's fault?

Sounds more to me like entitled sorts who've finally had their power checked exploiting a tragedy to deflect criticism.

I figured the ugliest thing about the NYPD was the video of Garner being murdered. But this effort to capitalize on the murder of their own trumps it. This is the cops in Groupthink mode, showing their true colors -- that in the end, what they really want is unbridled power, as close to zero scrutiny as can be achieved.

Maybe I'm misreading it, but probably not. These guys are effectively demanding that no politician in the future criticize them. The temerity of this sort of statement is only outdone by its absurdity. The last people on earth who should be put beyond scrutiny are people carrying guns, licensed to deprive others of liberty.

This country's getting scary.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Okay, so if I understand police criticism of DeBlasio and Obama stemming from the murder of the two officers over the weekend correctly, it is:

1. The Mayor criticized the killing of a man for selling cigarettes, an act even many conservatives defined as murder;
2. The Mayor raised concerns regarding a stop and frisk racial profiling program which is likely unconstitutional;
3. A grand jury inexplicably, in what appears to be a racist nullification, refused to indict the cop who murdered the guy selling smokes (which officer is being investigated for other abuse allegations involving minorities);
4. Following the non-indictment, the Mayor came out and plead for calm;
5. A clinically diagnosed psychopath murdered two police officers, allegedly in retaliation for the non-indictment (and because he's fucking crazy); and so...

This is all the Mayor's and Obama's fault?

Sounds more to me like entitled sorts who've finally had their power checked exploiting a tragedy to deflect criticism.

I figured the ugliest thing about the NYPD was the video of Garner being murdered. But this effort to capitalize on the murder of their own trumps it. This is the cops in Groupthink mode, showing their true colors -- that in the end, what they really want is unbridled power, as close to zero scrutiny as can be achieved.

Maybe I'm misreading it, but probably not. These guys are effectively demanding that no politician in the future criticize them. The temerity of this sort of statement is only outdone by its absurdity. The last people on earth who should be put beyond scrutiny are people carrying guns, licensed to deprive others of liberty.

This country's getting scary.

Someone from NYC should weigh in, but I think the problems with the NYPD have been building for a long time.

Giuliani and Bloomberg seemed almost proud of how out of control their cops were. Bloomberg referred to them as his private army, and made jokes about how he had the 7th largest army in the world. During the occupy stuff, they were among the most aggressive police departments around, and were praised for it. The NY Times and the Wall Street Crowd have been cheerleaders for aggressive policing.

I think the mayor has a tough job. The NY City Army expects the city to be run for their benefit, and that they should have no controls on them or criticism of them. The Mayor has to reign them in.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Okay, so if I understand police criticism of DeBlasio and Obama stemming from the murder of the two officers over the weekend correctly, it is:

1. The Mayor criticized the killing of a man for selling cigarettes, an act even many conservatives defined as murder;
2. The Mayor raised concerns regarding a stop and frisk racial profiling program which is likely unconstitutional;
3. A grand jury inexplicably, in what appears to be a racist nullification, refused to indict the cop who murdered the guy selling smokes (which officer is being investigated for other abuse allegations involving minorities);
4. Following the non-indictment, the Mayor came out and plead for calm;
5. A clinically diagnosed psychopath murdered two police officers, allegedly in retaliation for the non-indictment (and because he's fucking crazy); and so...

This is all the Mayor's and Obama's fault?

Sounds more to me like entitled sorts who've finally had their power checked exploiting a tragedy to deflect criticism.

I figured the ugliest thing about the NYPD was the video of Garner being murdered. But this effort to capitalize on the murder of their own trumps it. This is the cops in Groupthink mode, showing their true colors -- that in the end, what they really want is unbridled power, as close to zero scrutiny as can be achieved.

Maybe I'm misreading it, but probably not. These guys are effectively demanding that no politician in the future criticize them. The temerity of this sort of statement is only outdone by its absurdity. The last people on earth who should be put beyond scrutiny are people carrying guns, licensed to deprive others of liberty.

This country's getting scary.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Someone from NYC should weigh in, but I think the problems with the NYPD have been building for a long time.

Giuliani and Bloomberg seemed almost proud of how out of control their cops were. Bloomberg referred to them as his private army, and made jokes about how he had the 7th largest army in the world. During the occupy stuff, they were among the most aggressive police departments around, and were praised for it. The NY Times and the Wall Street Crowd have been cheerleaders for aggressive policing.

I think the mayor has a tough job. The NY City Army expects the city to be run for their benefit, and that they should have no controls on them or criticism of them. The Mayor has to reign them in.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Again.

TM

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Someone from NYC should weigh in, but I think the problems with the NYPD have been building for a long time.

Giuliani and Bloomberg seemed almost proud of how out of control their cops were. Bloomberg referred to them as his private army, and made jokes about how he had the 7th largest army in the world. During the occupy stuff, they were among the most aggressive police departments around, and were praised for it. The NY Times and the Wall Street Crowd have been cheerleaders for aggressive policing.

I think the mayor has a tough job. The NY City Army expects the city to be run for their benefit, and that they should have no controls on them or criticism of them. The Mayor has to reign them in.

This whole thing strikes me as the kind of traditionally third world problem that is invading the US. As the demographic mix of extreme wealth and extreme poverty make us look more and more like India and China, maybe this is the kind of government we should all look forward to having.

Maybe American exceptionalism and our neat-o democratic institutions have more to do with the relative equality of American prosperity compared to the rest of the world than to any inherent genius of the founders.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Someone from NYC should weigh in, but I think the problems with the NYPD have been building for a long time.

Giuliani and Bloomberg seemed almost proud of how out of control their cops were. Bloomberg referred to them as his private army, and made jokes about how he had the 7th largest army in the world. During the occupy stuff, they were among the most aggressive police departments around, and were praised for it. The NY Times and the Wall Street Crowd have been cheerleaders for aggressive policing.

I think the mayor has a tough job. The NY City Army expects the city to be run for their benefit, and that they should have no controls on them or criticism of them. The Mayor has to reign them in.

I'm actually surprised this kind of thing hasn't happened sooner.

And poor people in general are pretty fed up. I thought there was a chance that pitchforks and torches were going to show up to burn down Wall Street in 2008. If it weren't for TV, the internet, etc to distract them, the poor working class probably would have already revoluted.*

*is this a word?

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

When we retire from this rat race, you're welcome to join me living in simplicity and without luxuries at my little mountain ashram. I'm looking at a couple mountains on some nice Greek Islands as possible locations. The novices will take care of the cooking and cleaning.

You best be putting in an elevator. Daddy don't climb no mountains no more.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

This would have been a fine question to ask of this board a decade ago. Today, seems like less of a plus.

Speak for yourself, Miles Standish. I'm about 75 pounds lighter, and my hair has stopped retreating at an acceptable DMZ. I'm hot. I even have scars.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Okay, so if I understand police criticism of DeBlasio and Obama stemming from the murder of the two officers over the weekend correctly, it is:

1. The Mayor criticized the killing of a man for selling cigarettes, an act even many conservatives defined as murder;
2. The Mayor raised concerns regarding a stop and frisk racial profiling program which is likely unconstitutional;
3. A grand jury inexplicably, in what appears to be a racist nullification, refused to indict the cop who murdered the guy selling smokes (which officer is being investigated for other abuse allegations involving minorities);
4. Following the non-indictment, the Mayor came out and plead for calm;
5. A clinically diagnosed psychopath murdered two police officers, allegedly in retaliation for the non-indictment (and because he's fucking crazy); and so...

This is all the Mayor's and Obama's fault?

Sounds more to me like entitled sorts who've finally had their power checked exploiting a tragedy to deflect criticism.

I figured the ugliest thing about the NYPD was the video of Garner being murdered. But this effort to capitalize on the murder of their own trumps it. This is the cops in Groupthink mode, showing their true colors -- that in the end, what they really want is unbridled power, as close to zero scrutiny as can be achieved.

Maybe I'm misreading it, but probably not. These guys are effectively demanding that no politician in the future criticize them. The temerity of this sort of statement is only outdone by its absurdity. The last people on earth who should be put beyond scrutiny are people carrying guns, licensed to deprive others of liberty.

This country's getting scary.

I pretty much agree with everything you've said here. I would add the note of irony in the fact that the cops and conservatives everywhere are bemoaning the fact that two men were subjected to an act of hatred and violence by someone who knew nothing about other than that they bore a particular outward trait that set them apart from everyone else.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

This whole thing strikes me as the kind of traditionally third world problem that is invading the US. As the demographic mix of extreme wealth and extreme poverty make us look more and more like India and China, maybe this is the kind of government we should all look forward to having.

Maybe American exceptionalism and our neat-o democratic institutions have more to do with the relative equality of American prosperity compared to the rest of the world than to any inherent genius of the founders.

Have I been on ignore?

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

revoluted.*

*is this a word?

revolted

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

Speak for yourself, Miles Standish. I'm about 75 pounds lighter, and my hair has stopped retreating at an acceptable DMZ. I'm hot. I even have scars.

Race you to the top of the mountain?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

I'm actually surprised this kind of thing hasn't happened sooner.

And poor people in general are pretty fed up. I thought there was a chance that pitchforks and torches were going to show up to burn down Wall Street in 2008. If it weren't for TV, the internet, etc to distract them, the poor working class probably would have already revoluted.*

*is this a word?

Without unions, no one in Washington really cares if they are fed up. Low rates of voting, no money to contribute, no organized way to participate in the system.