When did it become ok to have a gun near the Prez?

The nutters are out nearly on a rampage. They're frothing at the mouth over imaginary threats to their right to carry military-grade weapons. So just to "show" that they are supporters of American freedom they've been showing up in droves to rallies on the healthcare reform held by President Obama, with their "freedom guns" strapped to the hip. Let me just cut to the chase and say just how fucked up this all sounds. I've never dreamed that it was appropriate to carry a weapon around the President of the United States unless you were part of the Secret Service detail or at a military function. If this was happening during Bush's time and the perpetrators had been lefties, I bet these same freedom-loving uptight assholes would have their panties up in a bunch and screaming for the lot to be hung by their toes. I don't care if I agree or don't agree with the Commander-in-chief or the Vice President, it is never cool to be "carrying" around them, that is unless you're hunting with Dick Cheney and well let's face it that's just for your own protection.

T-shirt love for President Obama

Hey Laaaaaaadies!
Originally uploaded by Telstar Logistics

I feel a little guilty passing this on, as the traditional acronym makes me cringe, but when I spotted a guy wearing this shirt, I did a double-take. So a t-shirt designer wanted to show the new Prez some love, so a "PILF" shirt was born. Anyway I thought it was kinda cute and seemed so appropriate to see that here in San Francisco.

Racists want apology for being called racist

So the racial profilers want an apology? Screw 'em. They deserve the same respect that they show Black and Brown people. Gates was not arrested for being unruly; anyway, he was in his own damn house. He was arrested for being a Black man being unruly in his own house. The cop has all the training to properly handle a situation where someone becomes irate, especially when it is over a mistaken identity type of situation. Instead, the cop got uppity and decided he was going to teach this Black man a lesson by arresting him. If the cop doesn't like being called a racist, I'm going to suggest a novel idea, don't act racist. These wolves in cops' uniforms deserve no apology.

Follow more details at NYTimes.

One more thing about the cops...

The Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association are a bunch of dumb, moronic assholes who deserve the sharp end of a racial profiling lawsuit. I am so hoping Henry Louis Gates Jr slaps them with a lawsuit that all their descendants will continue to feel into the far future.

NY Times

President Obama has his say on racial profiling

I was afraid that nothing would come out of the White House, specifically President Barack Obama on the racial profiling of Professor Henry Louis Gates resulting in his arrest. I almost was about to question his intellect and sincerity. He did stop short of calling it what it was: racism. But at least he did voice what damn near every Black and brown person in this country has experienced, harassment at the hands of "law" enforcement. I've got to put some quotes in there, because the law is definitely not what is being enforced, it's more like the old status quo of Jim Crow days. When a Black person speaks up for their rights, questions a police officer, cops get really indignant because they think themselves to be above the law. And that's when they become dangerous, lethal sometimes. And they have the nerve to wonder why there's such distrust of the police. Don't tow the Blue Line and speak out against police brutality and things will change.

Anyway, something had to be said and I am glad that President Obama finally said it. Now if he can only put some action to it. When cops are found guilty of harassment and they've got all kinds of lies to deflect the accusation, but when they are, the penalty needs to be good and harsh. A heinous act like that deserves a similar punishment. You want to trample over someone else's liberties, well wave goodbye to yours. We'll send billions of dollars to help someone else experience freedom, all the while we ignore those here at home who are having theirs stripped away simply because they're ancestry comes from Africa or Central America.

Screw that mess. Enough is enough.

Epidemic of Blacks being arrested just for being home

WTF, is all I can think. Sheesh here's the latest on a Black person, sadly it was the esteemed Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr, just trying to go about his daily business and ending up in handcuffs by racist-assed trigger-happy cops. Thank God they didn't shoot a Black man in the back this time. It all started with a nervous white neighbor who obviously never bothered to get to know her neighbor. She spied Black men entering a home in her neighborhood and assumed criminal activity must be taking place. One phone call to the cops later, Dr Gates is being ordered out of his home by "law" enforcement and ends up with his mugshot being taken because he stood up for his right against unlawful search and seizure. And no reasonable cause was not warranted in my opinion as there was absolutely no evidence of wrong-doing, just a twitchy white woman who saw some Black men near her home. Read more at the NY Times.

More stories on recent similar stories:

• Robbie Tolan killed by cops in own driveway (ESPN)


• The Daily Racism Run-down (Current.com)


• ACLU's report on Racial Profiling

Deep Thoughts by Dubya

What was Bush's self-examination and summarization of his administration's legacy? In a nutshell:

"Yup, I instigated a war. I messed up relations with old allies. I ignored the imploding economy. I screwed up the nation. Now stop yer bitchin' and deal with it."

Read and hear all about at NPR.