dmr
dmr's JournalI wonder if they were afraid if they charged Zimmerman that the
NRA wouldn't swoop in and run roughshod over the police department and the DA. The town of Sanford may have just been too chicken to face the NRA and ALEC bullies.
Think about it, the NRA & ALEC have spent a lot of time and money pushing this law not only in Florida, but several other states, as well.
If I remember correctly, the investigating police detective was somewhat honest with Trayvon's parents early on, and also, there were leaks coming out of the PD, showing how badly Zimmerman behaved that night.
The best thing that happened was Trayvon has smart, loving parents, & the public became passionately outraged - nationally and internationally!
This outrage has weakened ALEC and the NRA's stance on this issue. It's more difficult for them to come into town with their high-priced lawyers, bully-pulpit talk and whatever other bullshit they could muster to intimidate the locals.
I don't doubt there was some racism involved, but I also wonder if the PD either didn't know how, or was just too afraid to face the NRA bullies and the loony right wing public with their crazy antics.
Imagine how that would have played out. Zimmerman would be home, doing public appearances, doing a book tour - an over-night wealthy success & poster boy for the 2nd Amendment.
Just brainstorming here ....
I would bet those 15 are not very intelligent & they lack moral character.
Seriously. Low info & easily swayed candidates voted into office by low info & easily swayed voters. The teaparty is a plutocratic scam played on these people. They fell for it hook, line & sinker.
The new Congressmen most likely lack analytical skills & probably can't think fast on their feet.
They got elected & ended up being dazzled by DC, wined & dined, swayed, wooed & maybe even threatened, too. The money people will play nice so long as the newbies play nice back.
Life is good in DC. They feel important. Perks are great. They can be easily led, maybe even easy to be blackmailed. If they play the game right, the money people will finance their subsequent campaigns - and everybody gets what they want.
Everyone except their constituents and the rest of America who also suffer from their actions/inactions.
Sometimes I wish I didn't follow politics.
Did you know this law existed?
I never really thought about it. I always figured this was something we learned in grade school & we continued out of respect, if not peer pressure at the ballgames. But I never, ever thought it was a law.
As an American I'm not so sure I appreciate a law dictating behavior on the books. I wonder what the history is behind the law's passage. Why it had to be legislated. Is it a McCarthyism or cold war law?
Regarding The Star Spangled Banner:
- snip -
There is even a federal law (36 U.S.C. § 301) mandating that anyone in the presence of an anthem performance must "face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
-snip-
"Play ball!"
Drug tests for welfare? Snyder's office says it's too early to tell
Requiring a clean drug test as a condition for receiving cash assistance would have support within the Republican-led state Legislature. But supporters said they want to make sure the plan would survive a legal challenge, unlike a Michigan plan from more than a decade ago that federal courts derailed.
- snip -
The Michigan Department of Human Services, under orders from the Legislature, recently prepared a memo related to possible drug testing of welfare applicants and recipients. The department said the testing would be "feasible" and could include a possible pilot program for suspicion-based drug testing of welfare cash assistance applicants and recipients.
Suspicion would be based on the results of drug screening, which could range from questions on welfare applications to "professional screening tools."
- snip -
Missouri enacted a law that requires the state's social services agency to develop a program for screening welfare applicants and recipients, and then test those for whom there is reasonable cause to suspect illegal drug use. People who refuse to be checked and those who test positive and do not complete a program, will be ineligible for benefits for three years. While participating in a substance abuse program, people could keep their benefits.
- more at link -
http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/NEWS06/201050424/Drug-tests-for-welfare-Snyder-s-office-says-it-s-too-early-to-tell?odyssey=mod
Who would pay for this? This will create a new industry that will cost the state money. An industry that would make a wealthy, well-connected political donor even more wealthy/powerful.
Maybe we should have a citizen's brigade to randomly test the urine & breath of the Governor, State Legislators, judges, & the staffs of all these agencies. I would modify and apply this sentence to their outcome: "People who refuse to be checked and those who test positive and do not complete a program, will be ineligible for benefits for three years."
Christmas Present Wrapping Dance Thread
I'm wrapping Christmas presents! Need some boogie music to get me going!
&feature=related
&feature=related
(This thread is a take off of Pinto's famous Kitchen Dancing Threads. Hi Pinto! Love you!
)
AG Holder is Reviewing Michigan Emergency Manager Law
Looks like Rep. Conyers has asked Eric Holder to review whether Michigan can legally appoint an EM to take charge of Detroit's finances.
Conyers: U.S. attorney general reviewing Michigan emergency manager law
David Shepardson/ Detroit News Washington Bureau
- snip -
"
Holder) said, 'I've got my lawyers working on it right now,' " Conyers said, adding he spoke to the attorney general about 4 p.m. today. "He's trying to find out if my allegations of great constitutional concerns are valid. That's what he's got several hundred lawyers for."
- snip -
The emergency manager law faces a number of legal challenges. Detroit is facing a $45 million budget deficit shortfall.
The state has invoked the emergency manager law — though hasn't appointed managers in all cases — in Detroit Public Schools and the cities of Flint, Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster and Pontiac. Conyers said the law "is being applied in a discriminatory fashion."
He also said the law may also violate the Voting Rights Act and the constitutional right to a "republican form of government."
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111206/POLITICS02/112060427/Conyers--U.S.-attorney-general-reviewing-Michigan-emergency-manager-law#ixzz1fuiMWZkK
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayHometown: Up North
Current location: Michigan
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 28,347
