I am still in So. Cal; still partly laid up with this stupid knee issue. That means that I have lots of time on my hands, and have been reading the news.
Not good.
Lots about this crazed ex-LAPD cop Dorner who has been on a killing spree and has disappeared. The wonderfully trained and always dedicated public servants in Southern California's police forces have responded to the presence of a deranged colleague by taking a page from their colleagues in the NYPD: they have been shooting innocent people and showing, once again, that increasingly cops in America are out of control. They are poorly trained, brutish, cowardly, and overpaid bureaucratic bullies to whom we have ceded extraordinary power and given exaggerated deference. I am not saying that all cops are this way, but most, yes, most are or will become that way after a couple of years of service in the Gang of Blue.
It is time to reduce the size, power, and armament of police forces in America. They think increasingly like armies of occupation, and see the public as the enemy or at best something nasty to be tolerated, and then just barely. The police in the US have become militarized with excessive para-military SWAT training and have been gifted a level of war fighting equipment that would make many a Third World army jealous. Even small town police forces have an impressive array of armored vehicles, aircraft, powerful weapons, and, above all, an attitude that they are the Lords of War. Deal with a cop on even the most mundane and banal issues, and you will see the attitude I am describing.
I remember the outrage when many years ago Alan Dershowitz noted that in his experience cops frequently lie under oath. I see that there is a renewed interest in this topic. Having spent years in a close-knit bureaucracy, I know exactly the mentality that leads to this lying and the impulse to protect the herd from outsiders. Unlike, however, the pinstriped herd in which I lived for 35 years, this blue herd is heavily armed.
It is no surprise that this loser Chris Dorner was an ardent Obama supporter and a believer in gun control. He is also a lesson in why we need an armed citizenry.
I hereby make a gun control proposal. It should appeal to liberals who have long lectured us all on "freedom of choice" when it comes to killing unborn babies: Anybody who doesn't like guns, and doesn't want any guns, should not buy any guns. The rest of us need to be ready for the Chris Dorners of the world.
Unnecessary I think, for me to add anything to this post.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, I won't.
Arkie
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276139/David-Petraeus-CIA-directors-bodyguards-exposed-affair-Paula-Broadwell-claims-Benghazi-The-Definitive-Report.html#axzz2KWRG1F00
ReplyDeleteoff topic...but too good not to share. ebook comes out tuesday
written by former Seal and former Green Beret
Definitive Report on Benghazi
The article is VERY interesting
There was nothing in the article about senators and prostitutes so it must not be newsworthy.
DeleteCare to comment on this paragraph about the State Department from Chris Dorner's manifesto ?
ReplyDelete"I am not the state department who states they do not negotiate with terrorist, because anybody with a Secret or TS/SCI has seen IIR’s on SIPR and knows that the US state department always negotiates by using CF countries or independent sovereign/neutral country to mediate and compromising".
still waiting for a reply from the DiploMad
DeleteWell, he's right and wrong. In my experience we did not directly negotiate with terrorists except on one occasion--e..g, a meeting with the FARC--but did, of course, deal with countries that supported terror and asked them to intercede with the groups they backed.
DeleteI'm gonna disagree with you as to degree of brutishness among the police in general even as I agree to the tendency of many members of the huge city agencies you mentioned to go bad. It occurs far too often. There is a mental weakness among way too many of them that turns them rancid, and unfit for service. These are the same officers, btw, who lie under oath.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience the smaller agencies have a much better - not perfect, but better - record of filtering out the "brutes". Many officers in the large agencies migrate to the others because of this very factor. Their personal ethics.
As to their "over-armament" they at least need to be able to match what they're up against so I have no problem with that. Unless you somehow think it isn't "fair", and I doubt that.
As far as those detectives shooting first and asking questions later, lets see what happens to them first. They are entitled to due process. THEN they can be hung.
DeleteLAPD has an idiot for a chief. Blame that on city hall, not the department. But for over 50 years the agency has been rewarding weirdos for outlandishness instead of competency. They reap what they sow.
49erDweet, your comments in this segment are right on, in my experience. It tends heavily to be large agencies and all the rest, in my experience. That is not to say small agencies haven't got their share of twisted ones, either, in my experience. The past was even much worse. Not too sure of current situation. I know that far too much the militarization of PD's is underway, and not desirable. But many are falling for the push from the Feds. Because of my past experience, I try to size up the various agencies in my area. Some are terrific, and I admire for good practices, some are less so, but I know of none bad, at the current time. Even better, my current Sheriff is with the 2nd amendment freedoms, definitively, and very publicly. And that is a very good thing, to wit I say thank God.
DeleteI add a second topic, of some controversy. Chris Dorner is said to have come out against one of his own, before he was let go. It has also been reported he had a hair temper, what reports are true, actually, I have no idea. I do know, he apparently broke a terrible rule, with armed men in blue, of going after one of his own in a court. That and being black, can set one up to be very badly framed, especially if one has not any important or influential friends, or worse has enemies. In some forces or groups, you may be lucky to not be in jail or killed, for breaking a cardinal unstated rule. It's an ugly truth to life, less so these days, still not gone.
It is very possible, that he "could" have been horribly framed to absoultely ruin his total name, no matter how horrible and inexcusable his current crimes are. There does exist a small but real chance, that horrible things may become found, to have been done against Dorner, framing wise, in this matter. Just as with doctors, and some other groups, their is a fraternal mutual protection situation that does exist, though it seems to be breaking down some in some groups, I think. I speak from personal knowledge, in some of these areas, but not participation.
It must be recognized and dealt with, as there is corruption and corrupted in too many areas of life.
This is one of the ugly sides to the realities of life.
Jack
49erDweet, there is something to be said in living in a small town as I do. Our PD is small, 9 officers and a chief.
DeleteFirst, the officers all live in town (city requirement) and their kids go to the one grade/high school in town. Even police officers don't want their kids being told "My dad says your dad is a jerk." Our police officers are also encouraged to participate in Scouting, Little League, mentoring troubled students, etc. and so they know the locals, and the locals know them.
Perhaps that contributes to our officers being really nice guys who take their jobs very seriously. They are constantly having their egos checked.
The same applies with our sheriff's department deputies.
Now, I realize these guys are not exposed to the degenerates of society like say Houston or Dallas police officers are.
Zane
Jack, I agree there is a possibility Dorner was initially framed. One thing I learned early on was patience. Mighta got that from deer hunting, but as a trait it has stood me well over time. Dorner for whatever reason seems to be short that quirk, but at this stage it is too late. He is probably a dead man walking. As to Machiavellian plots, with his agency anything is possible. Sorry, EVERYthing is possible.
DeleteZane, I too am in a small town. The best thing here is the new CoP worked closely with my daughter (with crime victims) a dozen years ago, and we hsve s good handle on his ethics and professionalism, so that's all good. Like politics, the best law enforcement is local law enforcement.
I will also have to disagree a bit. Before his death in 2006, my brother was a Denver police officer. None of them had much use for gun control or "politicians," and they included just about everybody above the rank of sergeant in that category (with some exceptions).
DeleteGiven the human trash he dealt with EVERY DAY, I think he handled things with remarkable aplomb and perspective. Not sure I could have done so. Spending time testifying in court, where some cut-rate Johnny Cochrane tried to twist your words or assert things that were never said or never happened? I'd last about 10 seconds.
OTOH, there is something odd about all the SWAT training--maybe not with big city PDs, but why does the Department of Education, for example, have a SWAT team? To take down fraudulent diploma mills? It makes no sense.
As for Dorner, he murdered his own. He's deranged and dangerous (but note how the media scrupulously avoid even mentioning his political leanings). If we're lucky they'll kill him. Otherwise there will be a trial (circus) that will tax the sanity of any normal person (and cost millions of taxpayer dollars).
I would take your suggestion of Choice regarding Liberals and insist that the people on the Left be required to help pay for the purchase of a gun for everyone on the right who wants one.
ReplyDeleteHa! Brilliant!
DeleteReading some of the above comments I suppose I should clarify - I live in the least populated of Arkansas' counties. My experience (so long as I'm near my home turf) echoes Zane's above.
ReplyDeleteHowever - travel down to Little Rock (or Fort Smith) don't try this without the proper authorizations and take a tour of the State Police's "assets" - Dip's observation, "...gifted a level of war fighting equipment that would make many a Third World army jealous..." is spot-on accurate.
Arkie
(Oh, somebody brought this clip to my attention - yeah I realize it's from msnbc but it's revealing. Doesn't fit the narrative though. Airdate was 12/15.)
http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50208495#50208495
I was typing while you were KellyJ.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I suggest we ask Sandra Fluke to contribute.
Arkie
As a soon to be retiree I have lived and worked in rather large metropolitan areas since 1978, mostly in California. I shot guns when I was a kid growing up in rural Ohio but didn't own one until immediately after the Rodney King riots proved to the world that the LAPD would fold and run in the face of massive public protests, ie they protected themselves. I lived in Orange county at the time, some 50 miles from the epicenter yet saw the OG's from Watts flood the surrounding counties. LAPD ran and hide when the riots started and citizens were on their own. Lesson number 1.
ReplyDeleteLesson number 2 is actually a compendium of many events over the years including earthquakes here in CA, Katrina, and other weather disasters where the government ran and fled leaving citizens alone to face survival or criminal elements. Lesson 2 is you can't count on the government to save your life when disaster strikes.
Lesson number 3 is Dorner has shown that the LAPD is a cowardly outfit in 2012 just as they were in 1992, in fact they have learned nothing.
The retiree angle is that as a soon to be geriatric I have to take precautions to apply these lessons to my future life where I will be a vulnerable citizen living in an age where government is in the business of protecting themselves or their favored few while everyone else fends for themselves. For the elderly there is no substitute for firepower and preparation.
I remember hearing about those riots, and came away with a deep respect for the Korean-American shopkeepers who undertook the defense of their own businesses.
DeleteGeriatric retiree, (now I'm talking to myself?) on the LAPD and the Rodney King thing, as I recall field officers were ORDERED to return to their stations by their cowardly superiors. As I further recall out of a sense of duty not all of them complied but many of those were later severely disciplined for their "resistance" to orders. Remember, chiefs and their top staff are put in place by politicians, not their fellow officers. It's a cross every city agency bears. Most Sheriffs, otoh, are voted into office by local citizens, so sometimes that works out well.
DeleteI beg forgiveness for this rudeness, but "and have been gifted a level...": "Gifted" is not a participle of "to gift," because "gift" is a noun. "Given," or, better, "granted," are the words.
ReplyDeleteSincerely and respectfully,
A curmudgeonly editor...
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "gift" has been used as a verb for nearly 400 years. I rarely use it that way but do so only when trying to making a strong point about the fact that these police forces have received a gift from the taxpayers.
DeleteJust a gift[ed] horse, Dip - the OED works for me, but if that editor is truly curmudgeonly...
Delete"For German Gift "poison," see poison. ... As a verb from 16c., especially in gifted."
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php
Arkie
I apologize for overreacting, DiploMad. I see upon re-reading that your use is as a bequest, rather than as a present. It drives me nuts hearing people talk and write about "gifting" a sweater to Aunt May; or determining whom to "gift" at Christmas; or discussing "re-gifting" the cockatoo, or the cigar case, or the bread maker, or... I'm sorry.
DeleteNow that's interesting, Arkie. It gives a whole 'nother outlook to the DiploMad's sentence.
No, no. The use of "gift" as a verb is not universally acknowledged, so you were not wrong to question it.
DeleteI'm old enough to remember the "police brutality" cries of the Left back in the Silly 'Sixties and Sillier 'Seventies. My guess is that someone whose job it is to deal with violent troublemakers and put his life on the line to keep the rest of us reasonably safe has to be a bit rougher and tougher than the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI do not doubt that police sometimes do get out of control, and that they are sometimes lawbreakers. This is one reason why I once told a friend on a police force that I'd support gun control only if (a) there was a cop every 1000 yards and not bankrupt the country doing so, (b) there was an ironclad guarantee that each of thepolice officers would be a person of the utmost integrity, (c)each and every one also would be a person of extreme physical courage, and (d) should [God forbid!--spoken by a bliever] our government ever turn tyrant, those cops would also break out the guns, arm the rest of us, and use their skills to help us resist. BTW, I'm also a person who doesn't shed a tear when some two-bit punk becomes a cop killer (especially if there's not element of self-defense) and draws the death penalty for it. Hence, while I'm not a gun owner, I'm a 2d Amendment advocate.
My big worry is that whereas police forces of yesteryear were often politicized to the right or moderate liberal position, we may have them being politicized to the far Left in our day. I say we need to make it clear that the police are servants of the law rather than the state. Of course here we enter the problem of what law is, and what laws for a free people should be.
Ten four, Kepha!
DeleteAn example, of something that has happened regarding a government turned tyrant, at the local level, in America, can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ut6yPrObw&list=FL4r3CYNYthXLoC36XVufjlw
DeleteI hope to never see such happen, at any level, but history and humanity is rife with failures of leaders and government, and our government in America depends on an intelligent and informed mostly responsible electorate, not made up of crooked or ignorant partying fools, PC called "low information people", which I guess 51% are, currently.
So for benefit of a depiction of what could happen, the above video trailer is herewith made available, called the Battle of Athens.
I well enjoy your commentary, BTW, Kepha, and generally agree with them, as course.
Jack
It's been five days now since this armed madman fled into the San Bernardino Mountains (near where I went to college). Trying to run him to ground in that desolation is a fool's errand, and dangerous to the LEOs on his tail. Why doesn't Governor Moonbeam end this foolish chase by just declaring the mountains a gun-free zone? Over and done with it at a single stroke!
ReplyDelete"Of course here we enter the problem of what law is, and what laws for a free people should be."EXACTLY!
ReplyDeleteFor now we have a government that is claiming it is the law, not of the law.
Yes, indeed. I became a Pehudnik in political science over 300-plus pages (20 of which were bibliography)of erudite writing on the theological underpinnings of 16th and 17th century ideas of political contract and rule of law. We've gone from a monarch claiming to be law embodied to Congresses and presidents claiming to be such.
DeletePlease take a look at these photos taken by the LATimes during the Rodney King riot to see clearly what happens when the police, ie your government throws the citizens to the wolves.
ReplyDeletehttp://framework.latimes.com/2010/06/29/the-los-angeles-riots/#/4
After looking at these no rational person can claim gun control against lawful citizens reduces violence.
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/06/29/the-los-angeles-riots/#/0
Deletethis instead, the first one skips the first 4 pics.
What I recall of the LA riots was that only those Korean-American shopkeepers and some people who rescued an assaulted trucker came out looking good.
DeleteHeres an interesting collection of remembrances from the Korean shopkeeper perspective. I read somewhere else that the LA police were instructed to stay out of the area, and kept firefighters out of the area as just too dangerous.
DeleteThe Koreans who armed themselves with long-guns were the only defenders of their lives and property.
http://www.koreanbeacon.com/tag/los-angeles/
Ironic role juxtaposition occurring right now as the end of Dorner's flight seems to be near. The mighty LAPD is reduced to the role of bystander while the country bumpkin San Bernardino County Sheriffs Dept. takes the lead zeroing in on the barricaded suspect.
ReplyDeleteThe second irony, sure hope the CNN and FNC telecasts in the remote mountains don't interfere with anything important planned for Washington DC this evening.
Union cops, union teachers, union media. Go figure. Time for a new national advertising campaign:
ReplyDelete"Unions are harmful to children and other living things."
Just look at Chicago. It's Washington DC on steroids.
ReplyDeleteUnions in charge, proud and defiant.
2,000 dead from gun violence since Obama took office. Billions harvested from federal funds and foundation grants. Every dead body converts to cash for union pockets and the insiders who profit most.
Change you can believe in.
It drones on.
I'm curious why the Civil Rights Industry hasn't geared up to loudly defend a brother who was gassed and attacked with a bulldozer last night? Anyone have any idea why the Sharpton's, Nation of Islam and Jesse haven't brought their shareholders to protest why a brother wasn't brought before a court of law? Instead he was incinerated by a bunch of white cops.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the President didnt offer to sit down with him for a beer...
ReplyDeleteWe are going to see more of this, as similarly aggrandized under-performers with a gun are dismissed from the downsized military, and/or forced out of police forces, when their instability is discovered.
By harping on inequality, and pitting one "side" against another, and failing to speak up about the obvious problems in black urban life, ironically most on display in his home town of Chicago, the President has stoked the coals of what will become a constantly burning fire of anger and resentment by those who use claims of racism to justify their outrage.
And those will be cynically exploited by the race hustlers, like Jackson, and Sharpton- now esconsed on MSNBC- can anyone here have imagined 5 years ago that nitwit would be on a national news program as host?