America

[Digby]

Frankly, I'm not sure I trust any initial information put out by the police after a shooting. The "young adult who had a gun in his hand" just recently who turned out to be an unarmed 13 year old boy who was running away springs to mind. Plus someone just shared this - the original police version of events in George Floyd's death:



Puja

So watch the video. It's not especially ambiguous, unless it's horrifically edited. The young lass killed is leaping to try and stab someone, maybe there was a spare 0.1 of second or so to think of something else, but if this incident gets tagged on to what are some problem killings it gets much easier to dismiss concerns

Its part of the same culture of wrong you fucking doughnut. Would two people be dead if the cop hadn't been there to kill one?

I've no idea if there'd have been another fatality absent of the police being there. But if you're running at someone to stab them and get shot by the police within inches of doing so then fair enough.

What's the thinking otherwise, just let the kids fight it out with knives, even if only one of the participants has a knife? This is heading down the defund the police line in an unhelpful fashion.

[Sandydragon]

Agreed Digby. If every incident of a police related shooting is used to prove a point, there is a risk of losing focus if genuine use of force incidents are lumped in with the spurious.

Using a firearm to stop one person stabbing another is a reasonable use of force. If that’s what happened and there is proof of the police version of events then it’s no where near close to being an example of a racist police officer shooting a defenceless black person.

[Sandydragon]

Shoot first. Ask later. Brilliant. Why is it always the gun that is the response of choice in the first instance?


Social meja is alight with white culture war warriors claiming the justice system has bowed to a terrorist group, which they claim BLM is. When they say 'Muricans don't do irony, some of them do it less than others. Fuck me its pathetic how far the culture warriors will go out of their way to erect a flashing neon "I'm a racist bell end terrified of diversity and am struggling not to show it" sign on their front lawn.

And that is the root cause of the problem. There is a massive gun problem in the US and that is reflected in policing. The police response is aggressive and authoritarian in too many cases. I’ve seen for myself how officers speak to people and it’s a disgrace. But it’s routine. ThinknJudge Dredd but less futuristic.

The reaction often involves a firearm, regardless of the situation. I’ve done policing with a firearm and it’s difficult not to be very aware of the firearm you are carrying. I’ve only drawn my sidearm once in what anyone would recognise as a policing incident, and that was because of a side arm one of my team was carrying. But if you are in a cultural setting where you expect to encounter a gun toting maniac then you respond in a certain way. The cycle perpetuates itself. I know that the obvious comeback is that I’m blaming black people for police shoootng other black people, but that’s not the case. Big city American police officers expect to encounter illegal firearms and manage the incidents they come across accordingly and the incident escalated quickly from there. It’s that culture that’s causing the problem, allied to very loose controls over when force is permitted by the police.

[morepork]

The likes of Murdoch and Zuckerberg have created something out of control and abhorrent. It is possible to make a living off nothing but grievance and manufactured culture war with damn near impunity. Its just FUBAR. The shit has risen to the top and I'm not sure there is much we can do about it here with the constant threat of violence that underlies this shameless bullshit. This is a tweet from a member of congress today. I mean, what the fuck?

[Son of Mathonwy]

The likes of Murdoch and Zuckerberg have created something out of control and abhorrent. It is possible to make a living off nothing but grievance and manufactured culture war with damn near impunity. Its just FUBAR. The shit has risen to the top and I'm not sure there is much we can do about it here with the constant threat of violence that underlies this shameless bullshit. This is a tweet from a member of congress today. I mean, what the fuck?

This belongs in Judge Dredd, not real life.

[Digby]

The delightful chap behind that lethal personal defence item by runs a company called Q. The dog whistles as so often are subtle with this lot.

[Digby]

I am of course assuming when Marjorie talks of giving away her honey badger it was the gun she's talking about, if I'm mistaken apologies of course to Marjorie

[morepork]

I am of course assuming when Marjorie talks of giving away her honey badger it was the gun she's talking about, if I'm mistaken apologies of course to Marjorie

You are thinking of her Wide Bore Patriot Sausage Rat.

[paddy no 11]

Was cueing in the social security office in san Francisco 20 years ago to get a number for work etc,

The security guard had an IQ of about 90 was armed with a hand cannon

A vietnamese lady and friends were cueing in front of us and one of them stepped over THE LINE....yer man looses his shit and starts shouting at her, she hasn't a word of English and doesn't know what he is saying, he puts his hand to the gun just as her friends pull her the 12 inches to the other side of the line and its back to normal - just a ridiculous situation

[morepork]

Was cueing in the social security office in san Francisco 20 years ago to get a number for work etc,

The security guard had an IQ of about 90 was armed with a hand cannon

A vietnamese lady and friends were cueing in front of us and one of them stepped over THE LINE....yer man looses his shit and starts shouting at her, she hasn't a word of English and doesn't know what he is saying, he puts his hand to the gun just as her friends pull her the 12 inches to the other side of the line and its back to normal - just a ridiculous situation

Socialist.

[morepork]

They need to rename this country The United States of Karen.

The out of tune tone deaf noise made by millions of ignorant white people whining causes cancer.

[J Dory]

Was cueing in the social security office in san Francisco 20 years ago to get a number for work etc,

The security guard had an IQ of about 90 was armed with a hand cannon

A vietnamese lady and friends were cueing in front of us and one of them stepped over THE LINE....yer man looses his shit and starts shouting at her, she hasn't a word of English and doesn't know what he is saying, he puts his hand to the gun just as her friends pull her the 12 inches to the other side of the line and its back to normal - just a ridiculous situation

For some reason this reminds me of when I attached my bicycle to a pole in front of an apartment block in Soho, New York. The security guard/concierge told me I couldn't leave it there, he nearly fell over when I had the audacity to question his authority by asking if the building owned the sidewalk then walked off. In hindsight I wouldn't do it again because that's the way they roll in the USofA and the guy asking me to move my bike was "just doing his job". Don't question people telling you what to do who own shit equals freedom I think is the lesson. I haven't lived in the land of the free for 15 odd years so things may well be different.

[morepork]

That's privelege baby. There are many that think material wealth is a heritable trait I think. Between them and young hipster wankers with their manicured casual retro look and vintage prams containing their non-binary display fuck trophy, I just don't know who to hate on most. Probably cops.

[morepork]

Meanwhile:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congre ... s-n1270219

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, suggested at a congressional hearing that climate change could be combatted by altering the orbit of the moon and asked a U.S. Forest Service official whether there was any way the agency could do it.

Eberlien responded, smiling, "I would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr. Gohmert."

[Puja]

Meanwhile:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congre ... s-n1270219

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, suggested at a congressional hearing that climate change could be combatted by altering the orbit of the moon and asked a U.S. Forest Service official whether there was any way the agency could do it.

Eberlien responded, smiling, "I would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr. Gohmert."

Unambitious. Far better solution to change the orbit of the earth.

Puja

[morepork]

Fuk that. I'm gonna to move the SUN. That will cool shit right down and own them libruls.

[Digby]

It is somewhat likely he knows park rangers can't change the orbital path of the moon, and he was merely employing sarcasm to illustrate his derision for the entire notion of humans causing climate change. However, why he thinks it remotely appropriate to waste hugely expensive time in such fashion for such a serious subject is a mystery, and if you add up the cost of setting up and holding that meeting it shows at best he's thick as shit and hugely profligate with taxpayer money, and that before getting to him refusing to take seriously a huge problem, perhaps the defining problem for decades to come

[morepork]

You're right. It is a cynical play on all levels. They follow through with that shit though. So much of the dialogue surrounding legislation and policy is infested with fantasy in this country. It helps fuckheads think they are the Chosen People. Invoking scripture helps mask racist motivation, thumping the table over reproductive rights helps keep health firmly privitised, and so and and so forth. There is an inflection point however, and we really are in danger of going the way of the Dodo here. Look at the utter fuckwits that are coming through public service ranks here. There is trickle down and there is fucking melt down. Texas has tools in charge that spend their working days whining about culture wars on Twitter, then a winter storm rolls in and the infrastructure just takes a big shit. People die, people get charged a mortgage for electricity supply that did stay on. We've seen what a disproportionate and cynical focus on culture warz can do to a major public health response. What next? Only baptised people can use hospitals? The whole country is infected with Thundercunt virus, and it is so close to losing a generation of expertise it's not funny. The major focus for nearly half the of public servants is currently aggressive voter suppression FFS.

Change the orbit of a celestial bodies. Yeah right. Tell you what dipshit, you stop wasting everyone's time and I'll not give you a slap. What a cretin.

[Digby]

This is the genius who on learning he had Covid called his staffers into his office to address them close up in person sans masks to inform them he was breathing potential death on them, and this is the people who works with and might even like. So there is his contempt for life is consistent

[morepork]

They just don't give a fuck. Further to your point re cynicism, DJ Trump (or someone that is literate) has penned an op ed on the day before Junteenth about how dangerous the radical left socialist threat of critical race theory is to the nation. I'm not going to link to the article, but it includes the phrase:

"Instead of helping young people discover that America is the greatest, most tolerant, and most generous nation in history...."

so that is all you need to know about it really. It's timed for effect, it's designed to make angry people part with their money, and it is fucking repugnant. I can't take much more of this culture war shit.

[Digby]

It is of course entirely possible America is all those things, and still a place with some huge challenges before as regards basic decency and basic common sense. More broadly I don't understand why when you love something you cannot question it, why you can't ask and even demand more, essentially fawning praise is for the weak

[WaspInWales]

Meanwhile:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congre ... s-n1270219

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, suggested at a congressional hearing that climate change could be combatted by altering the orbit of the moon and asked a U.S. Forest Service official whether there was any way the agency could do it.

Eberlien responded, smiling, "I would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr. Gohmert."

Has Bruce Willis got a ragtag bunch of misfits together to take on the mission which has a 10 billion to one chance to succeed?

He's gonna need a drunk, a womaniser, a gambler, a smart, pretty but ignored female scientist, a large fella who is slightly dim but good in a fight and loves his mom, a token BAME and a hero...hang on the hero is gonna be Willis...

...unless there's last minute plot twist where Willis sacrifices himself and then the womaniser finally comes good to make sure the mission is a success thanks to the last minute calculations of the female scientist. He brings the team home in one piece and then spends the next few months sleeping with hundreds of women supplied by the U.S. Forest Service (female scientist gets to go first).

Then it turns out the gambler put a sneaky bet on the team succeeding and wins enough money to cancel the entire U.S. debt.

Then after the credits finish rolling, the screen fades to reveal Willis...amazingly still alive but in a bit of a pickle as he is spinning aimlessly in space with just a 24 hour food ration kit to keep him going, plus a screwdriver and some tin foil.

This is how movies franchises are born!

Coming to a movie theatre near you this fall, Fool's Moon. Oh yeah, Willis' character's surname is Fool. Sounds like Full. Sometimes these gags write themselves.

Followed by Fool's Moon 2 - Rescue Mission (working title).

And they say the movie business is running out of ideas!

[Digby]

[Sandydragon]

Meanwhile:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congre ... s-n1270219

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, suggested at a congressional hearing that climate change could be combatted by altering the orbit of the moon and asked a U.S. Forest Service official whether there was any way the agency could do it.

Eberlien responded, smiling, "I would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr. Gohmert."

Has Bruce Willis got a ragtag bunch of misfits together to take on the mission which has a 10 billion to one chance to succeed?

He's gonna need a drunk, a womaniser, a gambler, a smart, pretty but ignored female scientist, a large fella who is slightly dim but good in a fight and loves his mom, a token BAME and a hero...hang on the hero is gonna be Willis...

...unless there's last minute plot twist where Willis sacrifices himself and then the womaniser finally comes good to make sure the mission is a success thanks to the last minute calculations of the female scientist. He brings the team home in one piece and then spends the next few months sleeping with hundreds of women supplied by the U.S. Forest Service (female scientist gets to go first).

Then it turns out the gambler put a sneaky bet on the team succeeding and wins enough money to cancel the entire U.S. debt.

Then after the credits finish rolling, the screen fades to reveal Willis...amazingly still alive but in a bit of a pickle as he is spinning aimlessly in space with just a 24 hour food ration kit to keep him going, plus a screwdriver and some tin foil.

This is how movies franchises are born!

Coming to a movie theatre near you this fall, Fool's Moon. Oh yeah, Willis' character's surname is Fool. Sounds like Full. Sometimes these gags write themselves.

Followed by Fool's Moon 2 - Rescue Mission (working title).

And they say the movie business is running out of ideas!

I’ve watched worse.

[WaspInWales]

I’ve watched worse.

Pitching it to Netflix this afternoon