When Obama Walks into the Pentagon, and the Soldiers Turn Their Backs on Him for Firing McChrystal..

[TrollBuster9090]

THEN I'll believe that there is no unusual and shocking problem with arrogance and insubordination in the NYPD. Until then, I'll just go on assuming that there must be a serious and deep rooted problem with respect and discipline in the NYPD. If they think they can so easily get away with a flagrant gesture of disrespect to their Mayor and Police Commissioner over a disagreement in the policy which THEY are lawfully allowed to SET, there must be a widespread problem with professional behavior.

And I'll tell you one more thing. If the police in New York think they can get away with this kind of behavior to the Mayor and Police Commissioner at a high profile event, I'd hate to think what they think they can get away with in a dark alley. These guys are giving a bad name to all the RESPONSIBLE and PROFESSIONAL police forces in America. Just my two cents.

[tradewinds]

1. They should be reprimanded.

The Mayor should use stunts like this to "clean house".

[TrollBuster9090]

3. Yeah, they should get a letter of reprimand in their 'jacket,' at the very least. nt

[tradewinds]

4. I was thinking more along the lines of termination for insubordination.

[TrollBuster9090]

6. I don't think it would stick. I think you need something more solid for that. Like refusing to

obey an order in front of witnesses.

But in this case, they could simply print out a form letter that explains how this group of police officers turned their backs on the Mayor and Police Commissioner at a press conference as a political protest, and put a copy of it in all of their files. That would basically be a black mark on their career, and make it harder for any of them to get a promotion. I think that would squelch this kind of activity very quickly. But if they do NOTHING, that'll only encourage a LOT more of it.

[spin]

9. Remember the police are unionized. It might be very difficult to fire them for ...

insubordination becasue they turned their backs on the mayor.

[TrollBuster9090]

14. In fact, I agree with the unionization. So, I don't think city politicians should be able to fire

cops or other public employees just because they didn't like the way they looked at them; or because they didn't grovel at their feet enough. That kind of job insecurity ALWAYS leads to corruption and unprofessionalism, because it puts too much power into the hands of the elected politicians. (Too much power with too little due process.)

But I think they should at least be reprimanded, and have a note put in their jacket. It's basically the same as people deliberately getting arrested for protesting. The protest means more if you pay a price for it. So, I think it would be entirely fair for them to do this kind of thing knowing they'd be officially reprimanded. But not okay if they can do it without ANY consequences.

[spin]

35. I agree with your points. (n/t)

[Blue State Bandit]

16. NYPD Union has no contract. Negotiations are stalled.

De Blasio should demand the resignation of Patrick Lynch in exchange for any new contract.

If asked why, sight his lack of condemnation of Elected and Nominated Tea Party politicians and pundits in the ambush of 2 Nevada police officers in June.

[spin]

24. Interesting. I wasn't aware of that, but then I live in Florida. ...

I'm not sure it would be all that wise for the mayor to get in a larger pissing contest with the police union than the one he already is in. Firing Lynch could cause more problems than it would solve.

But to be fair, I am not all that familiar with New York City politics.

[DesertDiamond]

44. Well said, Blue State Bandit! If he wants the mayor to show loyalty to police, why didn't he show it

(BTW, it's cite, not sight)

[blm]

2. Bush would have purged everyone even suspected of voting Democrat - as he did

at the CIA right after he stole the 2004 election.

[TrollBuster9090]

5. That's true, I forgot about that. Not that Bush is a role model or anything, though.

Bush staffed the Executive Branch with political hacks who went on political purges, and (like you said) sent only loyal Republicans to 'rebuild' Iraq after the Baathist regime was toppled. We saw how well that worked out. (Although, I guess it worked out pretty well for THEM. Most of them grifted millions from that fiasco.)

But I don't think Bush ever had to deal with a case of flagrant insubordination. Obama did, and he passed it with flying colors when he fired Stanley McChrystal. And yet, somehow, Obama gets painted as the 'weak' leader, while Bush gets painted as the 'decisive' leader. I guess all that's required to impress the mainstream media is to have a Texas drawl, and blather about "wanted dead or alive" policies of deposing dictators.

[heaven05]

11. and be white

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

19. Speaking of grifted millions

Did anyone ever find out what happened to that pallet with 8 billion dollars in $100 bills?

[eggplant]

21. I swear, it's not in my extraordinaily large and lumpy mattress.

I can't explain why my box spring doesn't fit in my house, though.

[brush]

31. That money is long gone

Split up by that cabal that was running Iraq a time — probably secreted out of Iraq in diplomatic pouches or some such. Now most of it is probably in numbered accounts in tax haven countries.

I wouldn't be surprised if Darth Vader Dick got his share.

[TrollBuster9090]

38. Not only that, but what about the billions paid to the Iraqi Army...

half of which only existed on paper? I tell you, the Republican Tea Party wing can go on winning elections on the platform of saying that Government is inherently evil and inefficient, and should be eliminated....but Iraq forever destroyed the Republican myth that they're better managers of public finances than Democrats.

[freebrew]

41. Stolen by BFEE...

I thought it was $9 Billion, but what's a $billion more or less, eh?

Now, Jeb thinks it's his turn to steal some $$$ from us.

[IndyRadio]

51. Republicans would simply start hiring new people --

That is what Reagan did, and Bush doubled the number of employees in our "intelligence" agencies.
Likewise, de Blasio was dealt a stacked deck filled with ringers - in command positions - left over from Guilliani,
Even though he did replace a number of people at the very top, he faces inertia within the ranks.

[StevieM]

20. Bush purged the CIA of Democrats? I had never heard that before. How exactly did that play out?

eom

[blm]

43. Right after 2004 election.

He instructed Porter Goss to do the purge.

Corporate media pretty much let Bush get away with an awful lot then because everyone FEARED Bush-Cheney-Rove.

Imagine a Dem WH even attempting to pull an unpatriotic stunt like that.

[George II]

23. of course you mean "voting Democrat-IC", don't you?

[blm]

42. I don't use it as a pejorative - I am proud to BE a Democrat.

.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

7. High profile event?

Those cops were standing in a hospital where the bodies of their fellow police officers were brought. They didn't go to a presser to insult the mayor, and they have every right to freedom of expression in their off hours, including turning their back on the mayor. Turning one's back in protest is no worse than burning a flag.

[daleanime]

8. And you would be OK with cops burning the flag in protest?

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

10. Personally, no

But my personal opinions have no bearing on another person's civil rights.

And we should both be thankful for that.

[daleanime]

26. But isn't that what they are upset about?

The mayor had the gall to say something the police disagree with. The cops have the right to say the mayor has no right.


The more I think about this the more confused I get.

[heaven05]

12. bunch of hypocrites

are what these whiny babies are. If and when the "blue wall of silence" and the retribution against those who justly breach it is addressed, they will,nor will cops have any reason to expect respect. And the more murders/executions they commit and that are hidden by the 'good cops', the less respect they will keep or gain.

[Tommymac]

48. ^^^ This ^^^ eom

[TrollBuster9090]

15. They were in uniform. And I don't think they were off duty if they were in uniform.

Your right to make a political protest is put on hold while you're on duty, and are in uniform. I don't care if they dance around in front of City Hall in their civilian clothes while they're off duty, carrying signs that say "down with De Blasio." That's fine. But when you're on duty, and in uniform that's completely different.

[fredamae]

13. Immature, Childish Tantrums n/t

[Skittles]

33. there is a lot of immature, childish crap being said and done over this tragedy

it's sad

[SunSeeker]

17. Well said. Thank you. nt

[GitRDun]

18. I have absolutely no problem with the police turning their backs

it's a free country.

In fact, I thank them for their honesty.

We can all now see plain as day how deep rooted the problem is.

Like the rest of the world's zealots, their arrogance blinds them to the harm they cause to the people.

I guess we will all have to wait for that humbling event to turn the tide. It's scary to think how many more they will unlawfully kill in the mean time.

[rpannier]

28. If they're on duty

It's insubordination and unprofessional conduct
Their opinions are irrelevant while they are on the job.
It's part of their contract.

[Cryptoad]

22. Hate Begets Hate,,,,,,,,

[mwrguy]

25. Fire them.

[mimi85]

27. Look how many police officers are former military.

[mwrguy]

30. That is part of the problem

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

29. This is the ultimate proof that the police are above the law and will do whatever they

damn well please and you will shut up about it.

Personally, i wont shut up about it, we have a severe problem that must be corrected and you have to start with

g u n s

As long as our populace is armed to the teeth like children, the cops will always have an excuse to be equally armed and to behave in unacceptable ways

[rustydog]

32. It is starting to look like a bunker mentality

It is sad that an entire department lacks the integrity, dignity and respect for human life to welcome dissenting views and a willingness to cooperate with an investigation into the shootings.
They expect civilians to cooperate when they conduct investigations, why doesn't the door swing both ways here?

[Historic NY]

34. Contracts time coming.......arbitration is near.

the Mayor should turn his back on them..

[jwirr]

36. When they turn their back on the president they are turning their back on the American people

who voted for that president. The people who pay their salaries and the people who expect more of them. Shame.

[OregonBlue]

37. They are proving that they don't work for the public and the people. They believe they are a law

unto themselves. Totally out of control and someone needs to come down hard.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

39. They should ALL be purged. It's not like they can't be replaced.

[Enthusiast]

40. This is deeply disturbing.

The far right media (Fox) has successfully divided this nation.

[appalachiablue]

50. Fox rw hate propaganda has divided this country, promoted extremist conservatism and ruined

liberalism. I miss Dems like FDR, JFK, LBJ and others.

[MadDAsHell]

45. I've never seen DU so enamored with respecting authority and The Man...

I kinda liked when fighting The Man was what it was all about...

[progressoid]

46. The Man?

Depends on who you are referring to as 'The Man'.

The mayor? The police? The corporate media?

[Psephos]

47. agreed - sad to see so many revolutionaries become reactionaries n/t

[ConservativeDemocrat]

49. Whatever "we" can do, "they" can when they get into office

One would imagine that was obvious, but clearly it's not.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community