Liberal Protests

[Hedge]

 

 

[Hedge]

 

 

 

 

[Hedge]

 

 

[Rob's House]

5 hours ago, Deranged Rhino said:

 

It's not the right thread for a lengthy discussion -- but I'd suggest that you're failing to see the bigger picture of what happened. You're focused on "they not being able to prove it" while omitting that the "they" was the outgoing president and the heads of the CIA, DOJ, FBI, and every major media corporation on the planet. And, you're omitting/not realizing that what "they" did was fabricate a piece of fiction to cover up for their own sins. Not only was it the first time in our country's history an outgoing president undermined the peaceful transition of power -- he did so in order to hide even larger crimes committed by his own lieutenants. 

 

If "real issues" matter to you, then you owe it to yourself to re-examine the entire saga with fresh eyes and all the primary source material now available in OS. There's never been a bigger scandal in this country's history. The fallout has not even begun.

 

Personally, I think avoiding Barr's investigation is what this media-crafted outrage is really all about. I know it sounds like a "conspiracy theory" but it's far less outlandish than accepting this series of events at face value.

 

They have to get President Trump out of office. They know incumbents rarely lose when times are good so their goal is to create maximum upheaval in the run up to the election. They don't hate President Trump because of his policies, personality, alleged bigotry, or propensity for getting his hands on some pu$$y. They're terrified of what will be exposed if they can't shut down the investigations. That's been the situation from day one. That's what Russian collusion and the impeachment was all about.

 

They pushed the Covid shut downs as far as they could in an effort to crush both the economy and spirit of the people. Any doubts about their sincerity were confirmed the second mass "protests" broke out and all the extreme insistence on wrapping ourselves in bubble tape and hiding in seclusion instantly went out the window. 

 

Eventually though, the public turned on them. Liberalism is about signaling a willingness to sacrifice for the well-being of others, not actually doing it. When even their own disciples grew tired of confinement and began to defy their lockdown  orders, the plan fell apart. Society started to reopen, the market rebounded, and a return to normality was on the horizon. Something had to be done.

 

Enter the video of the "jogger" getting shot. People are killed on video everyday. In a country of nearly 350 million people, most of whom have smart phones, it isn't rare, and news agencies regularly have access to such footage. Video of a black "jogger" getting shot by white guys wasn't perfect (it would have been better if he wasn't beating the ***** out of the guy who shot him) but it was good enough. The white guys did roll up on him with guns drawn, and with a little massaging of the narrative they could, and did, turn it into another Trayvon Martin.

 

The George Floyd tape was like a gift from God. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if afterward the cop had stood up and unloaded his sidearm into Floyd's unconscious body. (If I ever run for office I suspect those last two sentences will be reported in isolation). They were already working the "hunted black man" narrative and now they've got video of a black man being killed by an actual cop with no reasonable justification. There was more wood in CNN headquarters that day than at 84 Lumber.

 

Since then the media's been playing full court press doing everything in its power to create as much division and destruction as possible. Every left-wing commentator excused, endorsed, and even encouraged violent insurrection across the country.

 

Inevitably they would, and did, blame this on President Trump. The fact that it was done by a cop employed by a Democrat city with a Democrat Mayor, and a Democrat sheriff in a Democrat state with a Democrat legislature, and a Democrat governor is of no consequence. Nor is the fact that all the previous high profile cases they cite occurred during the Obama administration. As with literally everything else, whatever Trump did would be, and was, reported as not only the wrong thing, but the worst thing. More importantly, they could further shred the fabric of society knowing the more tension, hopelessness, and misery they cause, the more likely it is that people will vote for "change."

 

For the true believers (i.e. useful idiots) and all the other dupes who got sucked in by emotional manipulation and/or peer pressure, this is ostensibly about protecting their black virtue pets from the nebulous, undefined, and unquantified threat of oppression and murder at the hands of the monolithic national police force. For those pulling the strings, such concerns aren't so much as an afterthought. For them the "oppressed minority" is a red herring and the SJW a pawn. Their goal is regaining power. Everything else is acceptable collateral damage.

 

One may wonder why they would go to such extreme measures all for the sake of electing Sleepy Joe Biden. Of course they want a Democrat in the Whitehouse. After all, having a Republican President is like having a Jewish Pope. But no policy issue really explains it. For whatever one thinks of his personality, President Trump's policy decisions have been relatively moderate for the most part, and Joe's uninspiring to all but the passionately moderate Democrat..

 

Perhaps it's all about the Supreme Court and that's all there is to it. But they've fought like cornered rats from day one, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it has everything to do with concealing the nefarious acts of the previous administration.

 

[JetsFan20]

2 hours ago, Rob's House said:

 

Personally, I think avoiding Barr's investigation is what this media-crafted outrage is really all about. I know it sounds like a "conspiracy theory" but it's far less outlandish than accepting this series of events at face value.

 

They have to get President Trump out of office. They know incumbents rarely lose when times are good so their goal is to create maximum upheaval in the run up to the election. They don't hate President Trump because of his policies, personality, alleged bigotry, or propensity for getting his hands on some pu$$y. They're terrified of what will be exposed if they can't shut down the investigations. That's been the situation from day one. That's what Russian collusion and the impeachment was all about.

 

They pushed the Covid shut downs as far as they could in an effort to crush both the economy and spirit of the people. Any doubts about their sincerity were confirmed the second mass "protests" broke out and all the extreme insistence on wrapping ourselves in bubble tape and hiding in seclusion instantly went out the window. 

 

Eventually though, the public turned on them. Liberalism is about signaling a willingness to sacrifice for the well-being of others, not actually doing it. When even their own disciples grew tired of confinement and began to defy their lockdown  orders, the plan fell apart. Society started to reopen, the market rebounded, and a return to normality was on the horizon. Something had to be done.

 

Enter the video of the "jogger" getting shot. People are killed on video everyday. In a country of nearly 350 million people, most of whom have smart phones, it isn't rare, and news agencies regularly have access to such footage. Video of a black "jogger" getting shot by white guys wasn't perfect (it would have been better if he wasn't beating the ***** out of the guy who shot him) but it was good enough. The white guys did roll up on him with guns drawn, and with a little massaging of the narrative they could, and did, turn it into another Trayvon Martin.

 

The George Floyd tape was like a gift from God. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if afterward the cop had stood up and unloaded his sidearm into Floyd's unconscious body. (If I ever run for office I suspect those last two sentences will be reported in isolation). They were already working the "hunted black man" narrative and now they've got video of a black man being killed by an actual cop with no reasonable justification. There was more wood in CNN headquarters that day than at 84 Lumber.

 

Since then the media's been playing full court press doing everything in its power to create as much division and destruction as possible. Every left-wing commentator excused, endorsed, and even encouraged violent insurrection across the country.

 

Inevitably they would, and did, blame this on President Trump. The fact that it was done by a cop employed by a Democrat city with a Democrat Mayor, and a Democrat sheriff in a Democrat state with a Democrat legislature, and a Democrat governor is of no consequence. Nor is the fact that all the previous high profile cases they cite occurred during the Obama administration. As with literally everything else, whatever Trump did would be, and was, reported as not only the wrong thing, but the worst thing. More importantly, they could further shred the fabric of society knowing the more tension, hopelessness, and misery they cause, the more likely it is that people will vote for "change."

 

For the true believers (i.e. useful idiots) and all the other dupes who got sucked in by emotional manipulation and/or peer pressure, this is ostensibly about protecting their black virtue pets from the nebulous, undefined, and unquantified threat of oppression and murder at the hands of the monolithic national police force. For those pulling the strings, such concerns aren't so much as an afterthought. For them the "oppressed minority" is a red herring and the SJW a pawn. Their goal is regaining power. Everything else is acceptable collateral damage.

 

One may wonder why they would go to such extreme measures all for the sake of electing Sleepy Joe Biden. Of course they want a Democrat in the Whitehouse. After all, having a Republican President is like having a Jewish Pope. But no policy issue really explains it. For whatever one thinks of his personality, President Trump's policy decisions have been relatively moderate for the most part, and Joe's uninspiring to all but the passionately moderate Democrat..

 

Perhaps it's all about the Supreme Court and that's all there is to it. But they've fought like cornered rats from day one, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it has everything to do with concealing the nefarious acts of the previous administration.

 

This whole thing really has nothing to do with Trump. Systemic police racism has been a long standing issue in this country. The Freddy Gray incident happened with Obama in office. 
 

The hard truth is that there is a level of fear on both sides. White officers patrolling the inner cities (many growing up in the suburbs) have been taught that inner city black people are dangerous. By contrast Inner city black people have been taught that the police are dangerous. 
 

Visit any city in the US and its the same. Travelers are warned to avoid the “rough” neighborhoods which are predominately resided by black people. The unfortunate truth is that there is indeed  significantly more crime in those parts of the city and it requires a larger police presence to deal with it.
 

The problem has been augmented through gentrification (especially places like NYC) where property values in the city have increased up to the point where you have very million dollar homes within blocks of these impoverished black communities. It puts the onus on politicians and the police even further to provide security. Why? Because they want more people to buy these homes and in turn generate new tax payer revenue streams. 

Edited June 3, 2020 by JetsFan20

[Reality Check]

1 hour ago, JetsFan20 said:

This whole thing really has nothing to do with Trump. Systemic police racism has been a long standing issue in this country. The Freddy Gray incident happened with Obama in office. 
 

The hard truth is that there is a level of fear on both sides. White officers patrolling the inner cities (many growing up in the suburbs) have been taught that inner city black people are dangerous. By contrast Inner city black people have been taught that the police are dangerous. 
 

Visit any city in the US and its the same. Travelers are warned to avoid the “rough” neighborhoods which are predominately resided by black people. The unfortunate truth is that there is indeed  significantly more crime in those parts of the city and it requires a larger police presence to deal with it.
 

The problem has been augmented through gentrification (especially places like NYC) where property values in the city have increased up to the point where you have very million dollar homes within blocks of these impoverished black communities. It puts the onus on politicians and the police even further to provide security. Why? Because they want more people to buy these homes and in turn generate new tax payer revenue streams. 

That is terrible. There is nothing more racist than investing in a poor area and trying to improve it. These poor oppressed people should be left alone.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

Troops from Upstate NY head to Washington DC

WHECTV
Created: June 03, 2020 05:10 AM

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WHEC) — Troops from Fort Drum in Upstate New York are heading to Washington D.C.

 

The Department of Defense moved 1,600 soldiers to the D.C. area in response to the growing unrest and protests.

 

Currently, News10NBC is working to find out how many of those soldiers are from Fort Drum.

 

President Donald Trump said on Monday he'd use the military to stop the nationwide riots sparked by the death of George Floyd.

 

https://www.whec.com/news/troops-from-upstate-ny-head-to-washington-dc/5749528/?cat=565

 

[Needle]

41 minutes ago, Reality Check said:

That is terrible. There is nothing more racist than investing in a poor area and trying to improve it. These poor oppressed people should be left alone.

It is hard to fathom why anyone would invest any $ into these communities. Business or home? Yeah okay, good luck with that. People are abandoning suburbs that are in walking distance to these neighborhoods.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Needle

[Reality Check]

8 minutes ago, Needle said:

It is hard to fathom why anyone would invest any $ into these communities. Business or home? Yeah okay, good luck with that. People are abandoning suburbs that are in walking distance to these neighborhoods.

I agree. Very few are willing to take the risk as investors into these places and when they do, they are the bad guys. The alternative dynamic is widely supported however, which is simply isolate these communities and keep them on welfare. In a real sense, that is just an unofficial prison system without walls. A concrete plantation if you will. It's insane.

[Wacka]

9 hours ago, SectionC3 said:

Maybe that’s why he’s chilling in his DC bunker.  Mowing McNuggets, rage tweeting, and playing some 4D chess with these snowflake governors.  That’s the ticket. 

Not 9AM yet. Still using the old phrase that pays.  No cash for you.

[LB3]

This is pretty good.

 

[billsfan1959]

3 hours ago, JetsFan20 said:

This whole thing really has nothing to do with Trump. Systemic police racism has been a long standing issue in this country. The Freddy Gray incident happened with Obama in office. 
 

The hard truth is that there is a level of fear on both sides. White officers patrolling the inner cities (many growing up in the suburbs) have been taught that inner city black people are dangerous. By contrast Inner city black people have been taught that the police are dangerous. 
 

Visit any city in the US and its the same. Travelers are warned to avoid the “rough” neighborhoods which are predominately resided by black people. The unfortunate truth is that there is indeed  significantly more crime in those parts of the city and it requires a larger police presence to deal with it.
 

The problem has been augmented through gentrification (especially places like NYC) where property values in the city have increased up to the point where you have very million dollar homes within blocks of these impoverished black communities. It puts the onus on politicians and the police even further to provide security. Why? Because they want more people to buy these homes and in turn generate new tax payer revenue streams. 

 

Why don't you actually read a few studies and look at some actual statistics. Systemic police racism to the level you and other people want to portray it is a myth. It is not supported by anything factual. Nothing. It is a narrative being pushed and manipulated to create exactly what you are watching unfold before your very eyes.

 

I have no problem with the rest of your post. However, people need to do some actual research for themselves on this idea of "Systemic police racism," rather than accept it as fact.

[mead107]

No excuses for what happened. Hopefully the other 3 officers will be charged soon. 
 

I do understand the abuse of power by police has to STOP. 
SOME think because they have the uniform on they are above the law.

i have seen it in our area growing up. 

 

on the other hand they do have a tough job. 
I did not know so many get killed each year in line of duty. 
 

 

Have not seen anything about the 38 cops killed in the line of duty last year or the 47 in2018. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/07/us/2019-officers-killed-trnd/index.html

 

[SoCal Deek]

15 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

Why don't you actually read a few studies and look at some actual statistics. Systemic police racism to the level you and other people want to portray it is a myth. It is not supported by anything factual. Nothing. It is a narrative being pushed and manipulated to create exactly what you are watching unfold before your very eyes.

 

I have no problem with the rest of your post. However, people need to do some actual research for themselves on this idea of "Systemic police racism," rather than accept it as fact.

Correct. As I posted yesterday, the FACTS are that more WHITE people are killed by police every year than BLACK people. Every year! In general, police don’t have time to go looking for innocent people to harass. They go to places and incidents where someone calls them to help. Are there bad actors in blue? I’m sure there are! But the problem is not systemic...it’s just not.

[Foxx]

5 hours ago, Rob's House said:

 

Personally, I think avoiding Barr's investigation is what this media-crafted outrage is really all about. I know it sounds like a "conspiracy theory" but it's far less outlandish than accepting this series of events at face value.

 

They have to get President Trump out of office. They know incumbents rarely lose when times are good so their goal is to create maximum upheaval in the run up to the election. They don't hate President Trump because of his policies, personality, alleged bigotry, or propensity for getting his hands on some pu$$y. They're terrified of what will be exposed if they can't shut down the investigations. That's been the situation from day one. That's what Russian collusion and the impeachment was all about.

 

They pushed the Covid shut downs as far as they could in an effort to crush both the economy and spirit of the people. Any doubts about their sincerity were confirmed the second mass "protests" broke out and all the extreme insistence on wrapping ourselves in bubble tape and hiding in seclusion instantly went out the window. 

 

Eventually though, the public turned on them. Liberalism is about signaling a willingness to sacrifice for the well-being of others, not actually doing it. When even their own disciples grew tired of confinement and began to defy their lockdown  orders, the plan fell apart. Society started to reopen, the market rebounded, and a return to normality was on the horizon. Something had to be done.

 

Enter the video of the "jogger" getting shot. People are killed on video everyday. In a country of nearly 350 million people, most of whom have smart phones, it isn't rare, and news agencies regularly have access to such footage. Video of a black "jogger" getting shot by white guys wasn't perfect (it would have been better if he wasn't beating the ***** out of the guy who shot him) but it was good enough. The white guys did roll up on him with guns drawn, and with a little massaging of the narrative they could, and did, turn it into another Trayvon Martin.

 

The George Floyd tape was like a gift from God. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if afterward the cop had stood up and unloaded his sidearm into Floyd's unconscious body. (If I ever run for office I suspect those last two sentences will be reported in isolation). They were already working the "hunted black man" narrative and now they've got video of a black man being killed by an actual cop with no reasonable justification. There was more wood in CNN headquarters that day than at 84 Lumber.

 

Since then the media's been playing full court press doing everything in its power to create as much division and destruction as possible. Every left-wing commentator excused, endorsed, and even encouraged violent insurrection across the country.

 

Inevitably they would, and did, blame this on President Trump. The fact that it was done by a cop employed by a Democrat city with a Democrat Mayor, and a Democrat sheriff in a Democrat state with a Democrat legislature, and a Democrat governor is of no consequence. Nor is the fact that all the previous high profile cases they cite occurred during the Obama administration. As with literally everything else, whatever Trump did would be, and was, reported as not only the wrong thing, but the worst thing. More importantly, they could further shred the fabric of society knowing the more tension, hopelessness, and misery they cause, the more likely it is that people will vote for "change."

 

For the true believers (i.e. useful idiots) and all the other dupes who got sucked in by emotional manipulation and/or peer pressure, this is ostensibly about protecting their black virtue pets from the nebulous, undefined, and unquantified threat of oppression and murder at the hands of the monolithic national police force. For those pulling the strings, such concerns aren't so much as an afterthought. For them the "oppressed minority" is a red herring and the SJW a pawn. Their goal is regaining power. Everything else is acceptable collateral damage.

 

One may wonder why they would go to such extreme measures all for the sake of electing Sleepy Joe Biden. Of course they want a Democrat in the Whitehouse. After all, having a Republican President is like having a Jewish Pope. But no policy issue really explains it. For whatever one thinks of his personality, President Trump's policy decisions have been relatively moderate for the most part, and Joe's uninspiring to all but the passionately moderate Democrat..

 

Perhaps it's all about the Supreme Court and that's all there is to it. But they've fought like cornered rats from day one, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it has everything to do with concealing the nefarious acts of the previous administration.

 

very eloquently stated, Rob. always appreciate when you take the time to elaborate, as we pretty much align on most beliefs i believe.

 

to the bolded i might offer the fact that with Joe in office (a true marionette on strings), the globalists will get a chance to get their plans back on track. if Trump should win another term, with many of the Left's bag of tricks used, they would not have a whole lot of options left to dissuade him from setting them back decades. as it stands now, he has only been able to set them back maybe a couple years.

 

here's to putting them out of business completely.

 

 

3 hours ago, JetsFan20 said:

This whole thing really has nothing to do with Trump. Systemic police racism has been a long standing issue in this country. The Freddy Gray incident happened with Obama in office. 
 

The hard truth is that there is a level of fear on both sides. White officers patrolling the inner cities (many growing up in the suburbs) have been taught that inner city black people are dangerous. By contrast Inner city black people have been taught that the police are dangerous. 
 

Visit any city in the US and its the same. Travelers are warned to avoid the “rough” neighborhoods which are predominately resided by black people. The unfortunate truth is that there is indeed  significantly more crime in those parts of the city and it requires a larger police presence to deal with it.
 

The problem has been augmented through gentrification (especially places like NYC) where property values in the city have increased up to the point where you have very million dollar homes within blocks of these impoverished black communities. It puts the onus on politicians and the police even further to provide security. Why? Because they want more people to buy these homes and in turn generate new tax payer revenue streams. 

oh relly? taking a point and running off into left field much?

 

when is the last time riot materials were staged throughout cities to implement maximum carnage?

Edited June 3, 2020 by Foxx

[billsfan1959]

5 hours ago, Rob's House said:

Perhaps it's all about the Supreme Court and that's all there is to it. But they've fought like cornered rats from day one, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it has everything to do with concealing the nefarious acts of the previous administration.

 

People should never underestimate just how critical this is. I don't think it is all about the Supreme Court; however, it is up near the top of the list of the things they covet...

[bdutton]

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jun/2/david-dorn-retired-st-louis-police-captain-killed-/?utm_source=ForAmerica&fbclid=IwAR00dEcEWlt-i5Bcb6ALFpc6mLwnMKmmKtDKFCSoOEQSyxYeIyrq40Aova0

Quote

ST. LOUIS — A retired St. Louis police captain killed by people who broke into a pawn shop after protests turned violent was a gregarious and outspoken leader who mentored youths and insisted on strict ethical conduct among his employees, a longtime colleague said Tuesday.

David Dorn, 77, was found dead on the sidewalk in front of Lee’s Pawn & Jewelry about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. No arrests have been made.

 

[Sundancer]

Statement by President George W. Bush

 

 June 2, 2020

 

Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country. Yet we have resisted the urge to speak out, because this is not the time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen. It is time for America to examine our tragic failures – and as we do, we will also see some of our redeeming strengths.

 

It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country. It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future. This tragedy — in a long series of similar tragedies — raises a long overdue question: How do we end systemic racism in our society? The only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving. Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America — or how it becomes a better place.  

America’s greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity. The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals — to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights. We have often underestimated how radical that quest really is, and how our cherished principles challenge systems of intended or assumed injustice. The heroes of America — from Frederick Douglass, to Harriet Tubman, to Abraham Lincoln, to Martin Luther King, Jr. — are heroes of unity. Their calling has never been for the fainthearted. They often revealed the nation’s disturbing bigotry and exploitation — stains on our character sometimes difficult for the American majority to examine. We can only see the reality of America's need by seeing it through the eyes of the threatened, oppressed, and disenfranchised. 

That is exactly where we now stand. Many doubt the justice of our country, and with good reason. Black people see the repeated violation of their rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions. We know that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means. Looting is not liberation, and destruction is not progress. But we also know that lasting peace in our communities requires truly equal justice. The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system. And achieving justice for all is the duty of all. 

 

This will require a consistent, courageous, and creative effort. We serve our neighbors best when we try to understand their experience. We love our neighbors as ourselves when we treat them as equals, in both protection and compassion. There is a better way — the way of empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace rooted in justice. I am confident that together, Americans will choose the better way. 

Edited June 3, 2020 by Sundancer

[SectionC3]

1 hour ago, Wacka said:

Not 9AM yet. Still using the old phrase that pays.  No cash for you.

Radio is dead, my man.  But egg McMuffin sales near the whites house are probably holding steady.  The healthiest president ever probably is McMuffin seven or eight already this morning.  Jus doing his part to curtail world hunger. 

Edited June 3, 2020 by SectionC3

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

6 hours ago, Hedge said:

 

 

 

My prayers are with him and family.

 

[SoCal Deek]

2 minutes ago, Jaraxxus said:

 

Ironic that the great villain of yesterday is the great hero of today.

 

 

The pander parade is even longer than I thought. Hey George....thanks for sharing! Any other words of wisdom? 

[Buffalo_Gal]

36 minutes ago, Jaraxxus said:

 

Ironic that the great villain of yesterday is the great hero of today.

 

 

Yeah, between them 12 years of Presidency, 8 years of Vice Presidency, 4 years House of Rep (sr), couple of years as head of the CIA (sr), five as governor of one of our biggest states (jr), but now, NOW it is bad and time to do something about this!!

Some might argue that the Bush Family was part of the problem, not part of the solution. ?‍♂️


 

Edited June 3, 2020 by Buffalo_Gal

[Sundancer]

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

[Tiberius]

12 minutes ago, Jaraxxus said:

 

Ironic that the great villain of yesterday is the great hero of today.

 

 

It just shows how bad Trump is that even W can lecture him. 

[Tiberius]

4 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

Vote!! That’s exactly right 

Just now, Jaraxxus said:

 

A simpleton's take, from a simpleton's mind.

 

It’s just a simple truth. The GOP is a joke 

[Sig1Hunter]

4 hours ago, JetsFan20 said:

This whole thing really has nothing to do with Trump. Systemic police racism has been a long standing issue in this country. The Freddy Gray incident happened with Obama in office. 
 

The hard truth is that there is a level of fear on both sides. White officers patrolling the inner cities (many growing up in the suburbs) have been taught that inner city black people are dangerous. By contrast Inner city black people have been taught that the police are dangerous. 
 

Visit any city in the US and its the same. Travelers are warned to avoid the “rough” neighborhoods which are predominately resided by black people. The unfortunate truth is that there is indeed  significantly more crime in those parts of the city and it requires a larger police presence to deal with it.
 

The problem has been augmented through gentrification (especially places like NYC) where property values in the city have increased up to the point where you have very million dollar homes within blocks of these impoverished black communities. It puts the onus on politicians and the police even further to provide security. Why? Because they want more people to buy these homes and in turn generate new tax payer revenue streams. 

That’s a massive steaming pile right there.

[Reality Check]

Tibs has a message from his hero.

 

[bilzfancy]

11 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

Hey, douche, this crap started under you. You set race relations back 50 years. You are the worst president in my lifetime and that includes LBJ and Nixon.

[Doc]

25 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

Radio is dead, my man.  But egg McMuffin sales near the whites house are probably holding steady.  The healthiest president ever probably is McMuffin seven or eight already this morning.  Jus doing his part to curtail world hunger. 

 

Why do you and other libs worry about Trump's health?  Many of you were fine voting for someone with a half-dead heart (Bernie) and many are now fine voting for someone with a half-dead brain (Biden)

 

13 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Jun 1 

 

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

 

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

 

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

 

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. 

 

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

 

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

 

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

 

But as a starting point, here’s a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

 

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

 

Let’s get to work.

 

Because 8 years under a black President wasn't enough time to get it done...

[BillStime]

Truth 

 

 

[JetsFan20]

2 hours ago, Reality Check said:

I agree. Very few are willing to take the risk as investors into these places and when they do, they are the bad guys. The alternative dynamic is widely supported however, which is simply isolate these communities and keep them on welfare. In a real sense, that is just an unofficial prison system without walls. A concrete plantation if you will. It's insane.

few? Have you seen how Brooklyn has evolved the past 10 years?

 

Young suburban white people have been flooding to cities for a while now. Cheaper rent/housing prices have expanded their footprint deeper into these cities (largely minority communities). 
 

There is nothing wrong with it on the surface, but it does start to price long time residents out of their neighborhoods. The majority of elected officials (dems included) don’t care about these people because increases property values=more tax revenue. Bloomberg used police in Brooklyn as an example to keep crime at bay in these communities to further encourage/foster gentrification.

 

The only elected official I know whom really cares about the people is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has made it her lives work improving the lives underprivileged minorities 

Edited June 3, 2020 by JetsFan20

[Buffalo_Gal]

4 minutes ago, bilzfancy said:

Hey, douche, this crap started under you. You set race relations back 50 years. You are the worst president in my lifetime and that includes LBJ and Nixon.

Obama definitely fanned the flames and set race relations back to before the '60s. For a man that could have united, he definitely was the great divider-in-chief.

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

 

[Buffalo_Gal]

 

[BillStime]

5 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Obama definitely fanned the flames and set race relations back to before the '60s. For a man that could have united, he definitely was the great divider-in-chief.

How so? Examples plz 

[Uncle Joe]

1 hour ago, mead107 said:

No excuses for what happened. Hopefully the other 3 officers will be charged soon. 
 

I do understand the abuse of power by police has to STOP. 
SOME think because they have the uniform on they are above the law.

i have seen it in our area growing up. 

 

on the other hand they do have a tough job. 
I did not know so many get killed each year in line of duty. 
 

 

Have not seen anything about the 38 cops killed in the line of duty last year or the 47 in2018. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/07/us/2019-officers-killed-trnd/index.html

 

It wasn't too long ago **** were walking up to cop cars in NYC and assassinating officers.  I think it was 4 in one week.

[Buffalo_Gal]

Catch and release. This is perhaps why they would like to keep the feds as far away from NYC as possible? It would not be the same result.
 

More on the bridge where 5K "just wanted to go home!" after being out after curfew. Maybe they shoulda thought of that before 8pm?
 

 

[BillStime]

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Catch and release. This is perhaps why they would like to keep the feds as far away from NYC as possible? It would not be the same result.
 

More on the bridge where 5K "just wanted to go home!" after being out after curfew. Maybe they shoulda thought of that before 8pm?
 

 

Still waiting for your examples of how “Obama definitely fanned the flames and set race relations back to before the '60s. For a man that could have united, he definitely was the great divider-in-chief.”

[plenzmd1]

1 hour ago, SoCal Deek said:

Correct. As I posted yesterday, the FACTS are that more WHITE people are killed by police every year than BLACK people. Every year! In general, police don’t have time to go looking for innocent people to harass. They go to places and incidents where someone calls them to help. Are there bad actors in blue? I’m sure there are! But the problem is not systemic...it’s just not.

cmon, you can do the math when it comes to Covid, but not when it comes to this situatiion. Thats just intellectually dishonest.

 

Besides that, how many of these incidents happen without a camera present and never get reported? 

 

Just like in the pandemic, two things can be true ....

 

yes, there is a problem systemically across the board..even if only 5% of police are bad, but they are allowed to operate without any consequences, that is a systemic problem. 

 

Yes, the idiots rioting and causing mayhem and propagating violence are to be condemned, and should be dealt with harshly and  to the full extent of the law.

 

 

 

  

 

 

[Buffalo_Gal]