Sometimes it's hard to be a Dad, a husband, a Catholic, a working class stiff, AND a Conservative Guy in New York State. But then again, sometimes it's kind of funny.
So funny, I moved to South Carolina...
Okay, this is wrong, but it's
funny nonetheless...
“With Lolo, I learned how to eat small green chill peppers raw with dinner (plenty of rice), and, away from the dinner table, I was introduced to dog meat (tough), snake meat (tougher), and roasted grasshopper (crunchy).
Like many Indonesians, Lolo followed a brand of Islam that could make room for the remnants of more ancient animist and Hindu faiths.
He explained that a man took on the powers of whatever he ate: One day soon, he promised, he would bring home a piece of tiger meat for us to share.”
And, young Romney put 'his dog' in a kennel on top of his car to go on vacation.
Personally, I have never eaten Dog, nor have I lofted one atop our family's Town & Country to travel with. What does any of this matter? Well, it doesn't.
None of the 'dog stuff' matters.
I've held off commenting on this because I didn't know exactly how to 'go at it'. One one hand, it's a tremendous opportunity to run through a litany of jokes at the expense of the President's pre-puberty culinary choices, as follows (Courtesy of IMAO):
If a liberal defends Obama’s dog-eating, just say – slowly, and with an honestly-confused look on your face – “yeah… but… Obama. Ate. A. Dog.” Ironically, said liberal will then get angry enough to bite the head off a terrier.
Obama supposedly ate a dog to gain its powers. Was his goal to lick his own privates, or did he just want to eat cat turds out of a litter box?
Many Americans are skeptical about whether Obama actually ate a dog, since he has yet to release his original, long-form recipe.
Some people are demanding that Obama apologize for eating a dog. Others call the notion ridiculous and insist that nothing short of reparations will suffice.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney responded to inquiries on Obama’s dog-eating by saying “it’s just a distraction”, and NOT – as some outlets reported – “a dachshund.”
The thing that angers liberals most about “Obama ate a dog” jokes is that they don’t make the people who tell them look racist.
Obama never actually said he ate a dog. He only said he was “introduced to dog meat.” Begging the question, “after the introductions were over, when did he say his goodbyes?”
Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark fame) also ate dog. However, historians have yet to discover a single hilarious photo shopped image of him doing so.
R.I.P. "Chomper"
On the other hand, I can go after the thing the way I initially reacted to it - with a fair amount of disbelief. Not disbelief that Mitt Romney strapped a carrier to the top of his car, or President Obama chomped on Chomper, but disbelief that with the issues facing the nation today, these are the things which matter?
Let out that obligatory sigh you're holding, and ask yourself: What does matter?
Hmm, do the following matter to you more than 'Dog Wars 2012'?
Our Economy
Our National Debt
Our Kids' Futures
Our Nation's Future
Our Constitution
Yeah, perhaps we should focus more on a few of these ditties for the upcoming election season? They probably mean more to most folks than the President being asked if 'Braised Whippet is better than fried Lab', or if Romney's 'Seamus' got sick in that kennel from motion-sickness, or due to the number of flies breezing down his gullet?
Mediocre minds want to know!
Don't get me wrong, both stories are funny (in horrific and tragic ways) but they have nothing to do with anything which actually, 'matters' .
What is most telling about the launch of "Dog Wars" by David Axelrod (Team Obama) is how LOW the Obama Campaign must go to fire the opening salvos to 'clear the field' of Romney as a candidate.
The other thing which came to light from this exchange? How quickly Team Romney responded to the Axelrod Tweet which began the "Dog Wars" shot across the bow (wow wow).
Given this first butt sniff by David Axelrod, it seems that Romney and his team are "in it to win it". As this 2012 Campaign season promises to take the level of personal carnage to a whole new level of 'Weird' - we'll see if those nimble amateurs at Camp Romney can keep up with the professional character Terminators of Team Obama.
I would normally close here with a, "It'll be EPIC", but I believe this will be an understatement when compared to the actual events preparing to unfold on the National Stage.
But here's the thing: Both teams, both camps, must remember that it's not about THEM - it's about US (as in 'United States'). While trading barbs over past pet history makes cheap political points and provides fodder for late night TV shows, they do not make our nation stronger, more secure, or self-reliant.
They do, however, provide an opportunity for me to think back to when I was in Third Grade and this would have been 'milk-shooting-out-the-nose' hysterical. However, sitting mere weeks away from my third year of the second half of my Century 'birthday'? They just make us look kind of stupid for spending time on them. Yes, this would include me, by extension, for spending time on this.
I'll leave you with these parting thoughts: As you think about the things which are important to you, decide who best represents your values, your beliefs, your vision for the future, and vote for THEM.
If you've been around a while you know I won't be voting against President Obama - but hey, that's just me. You can vote for whomever you like.
Hey, since it's Friday I'll leave you with a bit of music to start off your weekend. Enjoy your time with your family, your friends, and remember to pet your dog. It's better to 'pet' your dog than it is to 'et' your dog.
Regional Administrator of the EPA - Al Armendariz
a.k.a.: "Weasel Boy"
Al Armendariz, Administrator for EPA's South Central Region (Region 6) Al Armendariz was appointed by President Obama on November 5, 2009, as the Regional Administrator for EPA’s Region 6 office in Dallas. He is responsible for managing Agency activities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and 66 tribal nations, under the direction of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
...
Throughout his career, Dr. Armendariz has spent countless hours volunteering his time with several environmental groups and the Volunteer Center for North Texas. Through this work he has helped address a number of complex environmental and public health challenges, ranging from solid waste landfills to community and tribal priorities.
Dr. Armendariz received his doctorate in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Public Health where he was also selected as a Royster Society Fellow. He holds an M.E. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida. Al is a chemical engineer by training, with an undergraduate degree from MIT.
The title of today's post? It's a derivative of something which Mr. Armendariz spoke of (on video from 2010) which is getting quite a bit of play today...
Do me one favor before we continue with the story of Mr. A: Take a moment to visualize men, women, and children living in a village. Unfortunately, the village happens to be in the path of a pillaging horde of invaders.
Please keep in mind that this imagery is critical to the story - happy village, men, women, children living their lives and then, from scene Left... The Pillaging Horde arrives.
Next, assume the town's population consists of one hundred people minding their own business. Five men from the village are besieged, taken (by the invading horde), and crucified to invoke horror in the remaining ninety-five living townspeople to guarantee compliance with the Horde's 'New World / Village Order'.
Looping back to the top of this post...
Crucification IS 95% Effective
(At getting a point across)
The 5% of 'crucified / dead townfolk?
No, they don't get it - they learned NOTHING from the Horde.
Why?
Well, because they're DEAD of course...
Okay, got it?
Super!
Now let's have EPA Region 6 Regional Administrator, Al Armendariz, do his 'Crucification thing'...
Yes, right here, right now, you should begin to fell as if you are one of the 95 - or perhaps, are you one of the 5? Hmm?
We now flash back to 2010 as Al Armendariz, appointee of President Barack Obama, explains to others in the EPA the nuanced methods of Crucifixion and Compliance.
From Forbes:In a talk to colleagues about methods EPA enforcement, Armendariz can be seen saying, “The Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean.
They’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw and they would crucify them.
And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years.
And so you make examples out of people who are in this case not compliant with the law.Find people who are not compliant with the law, and you hit them as hard as you can and you make examples out of them, and there is a deterrent effect there. And, companies that are smart see that, they don’t want to play that game, and they decide at that point that it’s time to clean up.
And, that won’t happen unless you have somebody out there making examples of people. So you go out, you look at an industry, you find people violating the law, you go aggressively after them. And we do have some pretty effective enforcement tools. Compliance can get very high, very, very quickly.
That’s what these companies respond to is both their public image but also financial pressure. So you put some financial pressure on a company, you get other people in that industry to clean up very quickly.”
You don't have to take my word that he actually said this, you can actually listen to HIM. Yes, right here, just clickie the linkie which follows...
The Forbes article continues: And not only has Armendariz talked about crucifying oil companies, he’s tried to do it. In 2010 his office targeted Range Resources, a Fort Worth-based driller that was among the first to discover the potential of the Marcellus Shale gas field of Pennsylvania — the biggest gas field in America and one of the biggest in the world.
Armendariz’s office declared in an emergency order that Range’s drilling activity had contaminated groundwater in Parker County, Texas. Armendariz’s office insisted that Range’s hydraulic fracking activity had caused the pollution and ordered Range to remediate the water.
The EPA’s case against Range was catnip for the environmental fracktivists who insist with religious zealotry that fracking is evil. Range insisted from the beginning that there was no substance to the allegations.
...
Nevermind that he couldn’t prove jack against Range. For a year and a half EPA bickered over the issue, both with Range and with the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas drilling and did its own scientific study of Range’s wells and found no evidence that they polluted anything.
In recent months a federal judge slapped the EPA, decreeing that the agency was required to actually do some scientific investigation of wells before penalizing the companies that drilled them.
Finally in March the EPA withdrew its emergency order and a federal court dismissed the EPA’s case.
...
David Porter, a commissioner on the Texas Railroad Commission, wasn’t impressed. “Today the EPA finally made a decision based on science and fact versus playing politics with the Texas economy. The EPA’s withdrawal of the emergency order against Range Resources upholds the Railroad Commission Final Order that I signed concluding that Range is not responsible for any water contamination in Parker County.
Al Armendariz and the EPA’s Region Six office are guilty of fear mongering, gross negligence and severe mishandling of this case. I hope to see drastic changes made in the way the regional office conducts business in the future – starting with the termination of Al Armendariz.”
Yes, the Administration's EPA is looking for people / firms / industries to 'make examples of'.
The implied EPA Region 6 Motto: "Nail 'em hard, nail 'em often, and nail 'em when they're down..."
All to get 'them' to do whatever it is what you WANT them to do (or perhaps, to NOT do - such as developing the Marcellus Shale gas reserves.)
It is amazing to me that it took two years for this video to surface. A government employee using the 'Crucifixion Analogy' to explain how to deal with non-compliant entities?
Fracking idiot. Fracking media. Fracking Administration. Fracking Region 6. Fracking lunatics in the EPA.
Why would NY State want to tap a Natural Resource? Shoot, in parts of Central New York State Natural Gas is so abundant it seeps into well water, making household tap water:
Wikipedia: The peace dividend is a political slogan popularized by US President George H.W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the early 1990s, purporting to describe the economic benefit of a decrease in defense spending.
It is used primarily in discussions relating to the guns versus butter theory. The term was frequently used at the end of the Cold War, when many Western nations significantly cut military spending.
Anyone else remember the 'Peace Dividend'? The collapse of the Soviet Union meant that America would see reduced military spending, increased investment (a.k.a.: spending) at home for 'really important social issues', and the 'promise' of lower taxes for the American People. ("Read my lips - no newtaxes"... Okay, thanks for THAT Bush 41!)
Fast forward several decades to this Tuesday Morning as I sit in my comfy PJ's in front of my television...
The crawler at the bottom of the screen announces: "Space Shuttle Discovery is about to leave Florida for its final trip to the Smithsonian". Being a New York-based bovine, I hadn't heard that the Discover was moving this bright Tuesday morning. I'm sure that everyone else knew what was going on, but since I don't get 'out' a lot, well, you know...
Okay, if I'm being completely honest with you, I thought the film, "The Hunger Games" was about the economy under President Obama. Turns out that it's about a future in which teenage kids kill each other for food, and for the entertainment of the 'Reality TV' worldwide audience.
Huh, now that I think about it, it COULD be about the economy under President Obama - sorry. I hate it when analogies don't go anywhere.
Anyway, so I'm watching my TV and they cut to a live feed from Florida's 'Space Coast' and I see a Boeing 747 with the Space Shuttle straddling atop it. The plane begins to move, the camera begins to pan left to follow the track of the plane, and...
I get a chill. Not the chill you get when you have a cold breeze blow across you - but rather, the deep-down chill of dawning realization.
As I watch the 747 speed along the runway I realize that this is the last time the United States will have the Space Shuttle closer to the stars than it is will ever be again. And then I remember the promise of the "Peace Dividend".
The lie. The broken promise. The scam. The "Peace Dividend" allowed the federal government to grow, to flex its legislative muscles, all the while reducing US military and intelligence assets around the World. Tax relief for the 'masses'? Nah, that didn't happen. Our Nation put more of its money into feel-good social programs, lost its stature with the International Community, and then, fewer than ten years later... 9/11. Not that anyone besides me connects those dots...
The 'Peace Dividend'? Yeah, thanks for that.
I would like to suggest to you that we need a new term added to the Lexicon of our language. A phrase which will capture this moment in time, which will cement this Administration's strategy for generations of guys sitting in their PJ's on Tuesday mornings for years to come.
If I may...
The Mediocrity Dividend
I grew up (old?) watching the Space Shuttle shed itself of the Earth and boldly punch holes in the Ozone Layer with reckless abandon (that's for you 'greenies' reading this - hope you're wearning sun screen). I was lucky enough to grow up during a period in America's History in which the miraculous became the expected. I saw men walk on the moon (or DID they??? Had to throw this in for the Conspiracy Crowd - everyone else, I'm sorry) and I saw rocket-propelled giants launch Americans into space and return them, more often than not, safely again back to Earth.
I saw men and women throw caution to the wind to chase their dream of becoming NASA Astronauts.
I watched America mourn the loss of two Space Shuttles.
I watched Tuesday as Discovery was shipped to Washington, D.C. to become - a tourist attraction.
WASHINGTON — Sitting on top of a modified Boeing 747 jet, the shuttle Discovery made a sentimental journey on Tuesday, visiting its old haunts in Florida as well as its new environs around the nation's capital. And thousands thronged to see it pass.
Tuesday's flight began just after dawn at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and ended at midday at Washington Dulles International Airport, adjacent to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.
Over the next two days, the world's most traveled space plane will be lifted off its perch on NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and readied for Thursday's official handover to the Smithsonian.
Although Discovery hasn't flown in space since its final mission to the International Space Station, more than a year ago, the ferry flight was even more definitive as a signal that a 30-year era in spaceflight was finally going into the history books.
In my lifetime I have witnessed wonders unimaginable when I was a kid growing up on Long Island.
Wonders, dreams, ambitions, goals, sparks of genius, whatever you want to call them, are inspirational to all who behold them.
The death of yet another American milestone does not inspire the next generation - it merely foretells of the additional diminishment of our Nation. Yet another indication of our rapidly accelerating decline into Mediocrity.
When I was young, dreams died hard.
As an older guy looking back I find that in 2012 dreams sometimes die without a whisper, a gasp, let alone a struggle.
They die with the stroke of a Presidential pen.
Welcome to the managed decline of America.
Welcome to the tainted legacy of Hope and Change.
Welcome to the Mediocrity Dividend.
Four more years?
Seriously?
p.s.: I read yesterday that there are 73% MORE Americans receiving Food Stamps than were four years ago. President Obama's 'investments' continue to pay BIG Dividends...
In case you're wondering? Yeah, you're stroking those checks for our Nation's ongoing Mediocrity Dividends.
See? (Or, is it, 'SÃ'? Seriously, I have enough problem with English, so I'm not going there...)
Yes, reported this morning, President Barack Obama is in ['en'] Colombia doing the important business of America. This 'business' includes, um, er, vitally important things for the American People, which are unfortunately much too important and much too detailed to mention here, but let's just say that his visit to South America is really, really important, and we should all be thankful that he's there.
After all, if he's THERE, he isn't doing anything here...
President Obama in Colombia - AP
Okay, here's the deal, I can't tell you actually WHAT the President is doing in Colombia because:
a: I don't care,
b: Figuring it out would require several more mouse clicks, and
c: It's probably not funny enough to mention here
So, let's just go with what I know from the article I awoke to this morning from the nice folks at CNS News:
(CNSNews.com) - Just two days after President Barack Obama gave a sharply edged response to news anchor Larry Conners of KMOV in St. Louis after Conners had asked the president about Americans who “get frustrated and even angered when they see the first family jetting around [to] different vacations and so forth,” Obama told a panel at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia that part of his job there was to scout out locations for a future vacation with First Lady Michelle Obama.
Obama was speaking on a panel with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff when he made the remarks. The panel was moderated by Chris Matthews of MSNBC.
“I want to thank President Santos and the people of Colombia for the extraordinary hospitality in the beautiful city of Cartagena,” said Obama. “We're having a wonderful time. And usually when I take these summit trips, part of my job is to scout out where I may want to bring Michelle back later for vacation. So we'll make sure to come back sometime in the near future.”
...
On Thursday, Obama had invited Larry Conners of KMOV to interview him one-on-one at the White House. Conners asked him—in an exchange picked up by The Blaze--about the perception he said some KMOV viewers had that the president and his family took multiple vacations.
"Some of our viewers are complaining they just don’t--they get frustrated and even angered, when they see the first family jetting around, different vacations and so forth, sometimes maybe they think under color of state business and that you're out of touch, that you don't really know what they're experiencing right now,” Conners told the president.
“"I don't know how many viewers you're talking about that say that,” said Obama.
"We do hear from some. Yes, sir," said Conners.
“I hear from all kinds of viewers about everything,” said Obama.
“I am sure you do,” said Conners.
"But the fact of the matter is, I think if you look at my track record, I'm raising a family here,” said Obama. “When we travel, we’ve got to travel through Secret Service and Air Force One. That's not my choice. I think most folks understand how hard I work and how hard this administration is working on behalf of the American people."
Yes, America President Obama is working hard for you, his, um, 'viewers'? All the while he still manages to take time out to raise his family AND to also preside over the decline of America, extend long-term unemployment records, lord over energy price increases which outpace even the Carter Administration's, AND this year is the worst ratings season for...
American Idol
Yes, while the President is taking credit for everything, let's just toss the proverbial 'kitchen sink' in there too, sure, why not? You can't take all the credit without getting a little dirty for the blame.
But I have a question for you other 'veiwers' out there? Do you consider taking your family to Aspen, Martha's Vineyard, Spain, Europe, a prerequisite for 'Quality Family Time'? I don't.
Okay, 'personal perspective': I haven't taken an OFFICIAL Kane Family vacation with my family in over two years. Sure, mostly it's because I'm cheap - but the other reason is that I (and a lot of the folks I know) can't afford to take a week off away from home.
The last time I looked, gas prices are over $4.00 per gallon, meals, lodging, and entertainment costs are ALL way up, and that puts the once-a-year-hoped-for trip to Florida at approximately the same "Things I want to Do in My Spare Time" wish list at roughly the same level ranking as "Root Canal" or perhaps, "Wound Debridement".
Oh sure, I like a wholesome family vacation as much as the next guy, but what kind of vacation is it when you worry about the money you're spending while away from home and then you worry about [GASP!], "Will I have a job to pay the credit card bills once we return to our home?"
Of course, you must also factor in the mental anguish which surrounds the 1,334 mile return trip from Orlando to the thriving economic Utopia of... New York State. Vacation 2012? No. Most likely a Staycation once again this year. Perhaps, the third year IS the charm?!?!
But today I get to read about the President of the United States joking about how HE's scouting out additional vacation spots for his wife? How about he spend some time propping up our Economy HERE vs. all these "International Travel Engagements / Vacations"? Don't get me wrong, I don't miss him when he's gone, but if he's going to be running up millions of the National Debt travelling, why can't he go to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska, or Vegas, you know, someplace that could use the influx of cash? What's up with all the excursions outside the U.S.? And JOKING about it?
I'm getting tired of this guy sticking his finger in my eye and telling me how hard he's working for we, the 'viewers'.
You can paint a well-used latrine as much as you want, but underneath, the thing is simply a facade which covers up a whole lot of 'pooh'. It may look nice in a spiffy new coat of stain but once you get up close and hear the buzzing flies, well, you know the sound of 'pooh' when you hear it.
Every time this President speaks, every time I read his transcribed word, every time I read about what he plans to do via Congress... I hear the buzz of the flies.
Feel free to draw any analogies you like.
In the meanwhile, enjoy this musical tribute to the 1980's as we journey back to a time when women sung understandable lyrics while water-skiing, girl bands were HUGE, the Economy was growing (following the 'Malaise' of the Carter Years), and America was on the mend.
mas·ter [mas-ter, mah-ster] noun 1. boss: especially formerly, a man in a position of authority, e.g. over a business or servants ( sometimes considered offensive ) 2. somebody in control: somebody or something controlling or influencing events or other things ( sometimes considered offensive ) 3. abstract control: an abstract idea or force that is thought of as having control or influence ( sometimes considered offensive ) "She believes strongly that fate is the master of our lives." 4. owner of animal: a man who owns or has control of a horse, dog, or other domesticated animal 5. somebody highly skilled: somebody highly skilled at something
Race Baiter Race baiting is the act of using racially derisive language, actions or other forms of communication to anger or intimidate a person or groups of people, or to make those persons behave in ways that are inimical to their personal or group interests.
The term race in this context can be construed very broadly to include the social constructs which define race or racial difference, as well as ethnic, religious, gender and economic differences.
Thus the use of any language or actions for the purpose of exploiting actual or perceived weaknesses in persons who can be identified as members of certain groups in order to do them some sort of harm can be contained within the concept of "race baiting."
City Criticizes Police Chief After Shooting By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
MIAMI — Facing mounting protests over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a neighborhood watch volunteer, the Sanford City Commission voted on Wednesday that they had no confidence in the city’s police chief.
The vote of 3 to 2 came on a day when demonstrators, many wearing hoodies as Trayvon Martin, 17, was when he was shot to death on Feb. 26, marched in New York City and Miami. The marchers demanded that the police arrest George Zimmerman, the watch volunteer in Sanford, a small city north of Orlando.
Mr. Zimmerman, 28, a white Hispanic, told the police that he shot Trayvon in self-defense after an altercation. The teenager was walking home from a convenience store, where he bought iced tea and Skittles, when he was shot once in the chest.
...
Commissioner Randy Jones, who chose not to vote against the police chief, was not so sure, saying Chief Lee was welcoming a review of the department’s handling of the shooting. “The wheels of justice turn at 55 miles per hour, to make sure it’s deliberate, that everything lines up,” Mr. Jones said.
Chief Lee has served only 10 months leading a police department that has had a troubled relationship with blacks in Sanford. His predecessor, Brian Tooley, was forced out of the job after a scandal that involved a police lieutenant’s son. The son attacked a homeless man in December 2010 but the police did not immediately arrest him after the episode, which was recorded on video. Even after being sent a video of the attack, Chief Tooley failed to act promptly.
This came five years after two white security guards killed a black teenager. One of the guards was the son of a former Sanford police officer and the other was a volunteer in the department. The security guards claimed self-defense, saying that the black teenager tried to run them over. The teenager died from a gunshot wound in his back.
A judge dismissed the case over lack of evidence. The case inflamed passions in the town about the treatment of blacks by the criminal justice system.
“There is one issue after another here between the Police Department and the black community,” said Turner Clayton, president of the Seminole County branch of the N.A.A.C.P.
While introducing his pick for the new head of the World Bank, President Obama commented on the Trayvon Martin case. And he made it personal.
“I can only imagine what these parents are going through,” he said, “and when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And you know, I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this.”
He added later: “You know, if I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.”
[Moos
Note: If I had a son, he'd probably look like my other three sons... Equally
irrelevant as the President's comment, but what the heck, I might as well be
'Presidential'... The only difference of course, is that only about 20 people
just read my comment vs. the Millions who hang on President Obama's every
word.]
March 27, 2012, NBC News: In an NBC segment featuring George Zimmerman's 911 call on the night of the Trayvon Martin shooting, Zimmerman is heard saying:
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black.”
The actual transcript of this segment of the 911 call:
Zimmerman: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”
911 operator: “Okay. And this guy, is he white black or Hispanic?”
Zimmerman: “He looks black.”
April 7, 2012: The Huffington Post NEW YORK, April 7 (Reuters) - NBC News' decision to air an edited call from George Zimmerman to police in the moments before he shot Trayvon Martin was "a mistake and not a deliberate act to misrepresent the phone call," according to the president of the network's news division.
The edit in question, which aired on the network's flagship "Today" morning show last week, made it appear that Zimmerman told police that Martin was black without being prompted, when, in fact, the full tape reveals that the neighborhood watch captain only did so when responding to a question posed by a dispatcher.
Under growing public pressure to explain the incident, NBC News President Steve Capus provided Reuters with the fullest explanation to date of how the edited call made it on air and what the network is doing to prevent such a consequential error from happening again. Capus confirmed a previous Reuters report that an internal network investigation had determined that a producer made the editing error, and that the network's editorial controls - including senior broadcast producer oversight, script editors and often legal and standards department reviews of sensitive material to be broadcast - simply missed the selective editing of the phone call.
Two sources at the network told Reuters the Miami-based producer of the segment had been fired on Thursday.
Capus said "several people" involved were disciplined, though he declined to specify the nature of the disciplinary actions, saying they were internal personnel matters. Sources at the network told Reuters on Thursday that NBC News executives did not know the emergency call was misleadingly edited until news reports surfaced days later on blogs including newsbusters.org and Breitbart.com.
Those blogs, along with media critics and rival networks, have charged that the edited call has inflamed racial tensions in an already volatile situation.
ORLANDO, Fla. - If George Zimmerman is not arrested in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin soon, the Rev. Al Sharpton says he will call for an escalation in peaceful civil disobedience and economic sanctions.
"I will speak about how the National Action Network will move to the next level if Zimmerman isn’t arrested," Sharpton said, who founded the organization. He added that it was the Martin family and lawyers who first asked him to get involved and nationalize this story.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson is also expected to participate in the event.
The case has ignited ire and debate across the nation, galvanizing thousands of Trayvon supporters to the streets and social media, donning hoodies and toting Skittles.
Sanford police this week released a video of a handcuffed George Zimmerman apparently showing no visible signs of physical injury after he claimed that he shot the 17-year-old teenager in self-defense. ...
"Whether he (Zimmerman) had a swollen or broken nose, neither one means he had to take a 9 mm and kill someone," he said. "It’s not about saying Zimmerman is innocent or guilty, this is about whether there was probable cause to arrest him."
He criticized the way authorities have released information about the case and said they are setting a harmful precedent, he said.
April 8, 2012, The Dailer Caller: Sharpton breaks promise to Trayvon supporters, fails to show up in Sanford for Easter ‘Occupation’ On Easter Sunday the Rev. Al Sharpton, an MSNBC host, broke a major promise he made to those supporting him and the family of slain teenager Trayvon Martin: He didn’t show up in Sanford, Fla., to “occupy” the town.
On March 26 Sharpton vowed to “occupy” Sanford over Easter weekend to show support for Trayvon, the 17-year-old black teen who was shot by Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26.
“We’re going to have a full blown occupation of Sanford with tents and everything over Easter weekend until [authorities] either arrest George Zimmerman, or arrest us for praying for his arrest,” Sharpton told ABC News about two weeks before Easter.
On Easter weekend, however, Sharpton is nowhere to be found in the central Florida town. Instead, according to his Twitter feed, he’s in Harlem.
April 2, 2012, CBS News: (CBS) SANFORD, Fla. - The voice heard calling for help on a 911 call just before Trayvon Martin was fatally shot was not that of George Zimmerman, two forensic voice identification experts told MSNBC on Sunday.
"The tests concluded that it's not the voice of Mr. Zimmerman," Tom Owen, of Owen Forensic Services LLC and chair emeritus for the American Board of Recorded Evidence said.
When asked if he thought such tests would be admissible in court, Owen said "yes" and noted he had recently used similar testing at a murder trial that involved a 911 call.
March 28, 2012, ABC News: Trayvon Martin Video Shows No Blood or Bruises on George Zimmerman A police surveillance video taken the night that Trayvon Martin was shot dead shows no blood or bruises on George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who says he shot Martin after he was punched in the nose, knocked down and had his head slammed into the ground.
The surveillance video, which was obtained exclusively by ABC News, shows Zimmerman arriving in a police cruiser. ... The initial police report noted that Zimmerman was bleeding from the back of the head and nose, and after medical attention it was decided that he was in good enough condition to travel in a police cruiser to the Sanford, Fla., police station for questioning.
His lawyer later insisted that Zimmerman's nose had been broken in his scuffle with 17-year-old Martin.
In the video an officer is seen pausing to look at the back of Zimmerman's head, but no abrasions or blood can be seen in the video and he did not check into the emergency room following the police questioning.
April 2, 2012, Orlando Sentinal: Trayvon Martin - ABC enhances George Zimmerman video ABC News has re-digitized video of George Zimmerman taken shortly after Trayvon Martin's shooting.
The video was unveiled as an exclusive this morning on "Good Morning America." ABC was the first news organization to show the original tape.
Reporter Matt Gutman said the clearer video shows "what appear to be a pair of gashes or welts on George Zimmerman's head."
Neighborhood Watch volunteer Zimmerman has said he shot 17-year-old Trayvon in self-defense. The video shows Zimmerman arriving at the Sanford Police Department within an hour after the shooting.
Gutman said the video had been "clarified" by Forensic Protection Inc. Former FBI Special Agent Brad Garrett told ABC that the clearer video shows "marks on the back of Mr. Zimmerman's head."
The New Black Panther Party is offering a bounty for the "capture" of George Zimmerman, the man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida last month. The bounty was orignally reported at $10,000.
But Mikhail Muhammad, the southern regional leader of the Panthers, upped the ante to an anticipated $1 million, which he says "will come from the black community [including] athletes and entertainers."
More of Muhammad's remarks:
"We're going to force our government to do their job properly. And if they don't, we will."
"White America, we have given you 400 years to get it right, and you still have failed black people...we must declare to white America, time is up for you. No longer can you kill black children and get away with it..."
While there may indeed be legitimate complaints against the Sanford, FL police department's history when it comes to prosecutions (or the lack thereof) of violent crime against blacks. Nevertheless, Muhammad's words sound more like murder for hire than trying to "capture" someone, not that the Panthers have any place telling people to go capture anybody. Someone should make clear to Mr. Muhammad that he will likely go to prison if someone acts on his exhortation, whether or not the Panthers actually pays the bounty, and that the penalty for hiring a hit man can be death.
April 9, 2012, The Daily Caller: Zimmerman family challenges Holder on New Black Panthers, says no arrests ‘based solely on your race’
In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday, obtained exclusively by The Daily Caller, a family member of George Zimmerman asked the nation’s top law enforcement officer why he has chosen to not arrest members of the New Black Panther Party for their rhetoric — some of which may fit the federal government’s definition of a hate crime — throughout the Trayvon Martin case.
The family member believes the reason Holder hasn’t made those arrests is because he, like the members of the New Black Panther Party, is black.
“I am writing you to ask you why, when the law of the land is crystal clear, is your office not arresting the New Black Panthers for hate crimes?” the family member wrote to Holder.
“The Zimmerman family is in hiding because of the threats that have been made against us, yet the DOJ has maintained an eerie silence on this matter. These threats are very public. If you haven’t been paying attention just do a Google search and you will find plenty. Since when can a group of people in the United States put a bounty on someone’s head, circulate Wanted posters publicly, and still be walking the streets?”
The New Black Panthers have issued ultimatums to the Sanford authorities, saying they want Zimmerman arrested “dead or alive.” They have placed a bounty on Zimmerman’s head, and have called for the building of an army of vigilantes to track him down and effect a citizen’s arrest.
Most recently, the New Black Panther Party has called for violence.
In a conference call recorded over the weekend, the militant group said it planned to “suit up and boot up” and prepare for the next stages of the “race war.”
April 10, 2012, 10 News, Tampa: New Black Panther Party chief of staff Michelle Williams apologizes after George Zimmerman radio outburst
Tampa, Florida - It was an emotional interview for Michelle Williams.
As a community activist and chief of staff for the New Black Panther Party, Michelle is used to addressing many issues. But when it comes to her passion in the Trayvon Martin case, she get especially upset and tearful.
Through tears, she said, "If my words, my words that I had to say out of anger will make the American people address this issue, let it be my time, Melanie. Let it be my time to address this issue with America, that we say enough is enough. We can't have any more killings." She spoke openly, "My words were out of anger. I did not incite, I did not promote, nor did I encourage anyone to go and pick up a gun."
In an online interview this week, Michelle Williams spoke openly of her frustration with what she calls the massive racial problem in this country, especially over the Trayvon Martin case. She admits that her sadness over the case was overwhelming and that she spoke harshly during the online segment.
Her words were not taken lightly and were replayed Tuesday morning by nationally syndicated radio talk show host Bubba the Love Sponge.
Michelle said during the interview, "Let me tell you, the things that's about to happen, to these honkeys, these crackers, these pigs, these pink people, these ---- people. It has been long overdue. My prize right now this evening ... is gonna be the bounty, the arrest, dead or alive, for George Zimmerman. You feel me?"
Bubba addressed her saying, "Michelle, really? You are so much better than that, honey."
"My words that I spoke were very passionate, passionate anger of an activist, of an advocate, of a leader who sat by and watched so much destruction happen. Melanie, my back is against the wall," she told us.
Michelle is putting out an open invitation to any group - the Ku Klux Klan, black, white, mayors, cops - anyone out there, who wants to talk about keeping peace in the Martin case, she's willing to listen.
Bottom Line: I don't know what happened the February night Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, FL.
All I know is what has happened since he was killed.
It does not comfort me.
Divided, we stand.
To the folks at CBS, NBC, CNN, the White House and the New Black Panther Party stirring the pot - your parents should have taught you better than they did. Or perhaps, you are simply incapable of learning?
"Hey, what are you giving me? What's in the pouch? Is it some kind of 'magic dust' or something?" Cheech asks.
"It's something you NEED man. They told me you ought to take it because it's paid for. They are giving this stuff away. They say the more they give away, the more they get..." Tommy explains.
"Okay, so why are they giving this stuff away? And seriously, like, who paid for it? Come on man, nobody gives stuff away, unless it's like junk or something??? What's the hitch? Is there something wrong with it? Am I going to find a human finger in it or some dirty cut toenails?" asks Cheech. "I don't know, but all I know is that there's plenty more where this stuff came from... These cafeteria ladies were handing stuff out to everyone man - they had so much, they wanted me to bring back a friend." Tommy says.
"Oh, so I'm your friend?" asks Cheech.
"You'd better be." says Tommy.
"How come?"
"Because you owe me fifty bucks for the OTHER stuff I gave you yesterday. You know, the special stuff." Tommy says.
"Oh, yeah, man, I forgot about that... Was it really fifty? That seems like a lot... You think the cafeteria ladies have cash to hand out too?" Cheech asks.
"I dunno man, they might. They looked like they were on some kind of a mission or something." Tommy says. "Hey, you think they got brownies too? I love brownies man."
LA Unified School District was in the news (and in our MoosRoom) in February, 2012 for their 'LA Menu Healthy Meals' prepared for students in the district. Under the strict guidance of a Nutritional Advisor, meals were lovingly prepared en masse for the unsuspecting students. The only problem was that kids don't want to eat lunches consisting of Vegetarian curry and Quinoa Salad - even if the lunch is FREE.
Shoot, I'd PAY money not to eat that stuff. Just out of curiousity, what's a 'Quinoa'? It sounds like a fish, a tree frog, or something you'd grow in a petris dish. I really didn't want to do research today, but let's see what they say about Quinoa over at www.cookingquinoa.net (yes, and actual site dedicated to 'Quinoa' recipes - go figure):
Quinoa Salad One of my favorite ways to enjoy quinoa is quinoa salad! It is easy to make, healthy and great for anyone who is busy! Simply cook a big batch of quinoa when you have time and always have some on hand in your refrigerator.
It will keep in a sealed container for up to a week. Then, you can whip up a quinoa salad recipe in less than 10 minutes! Cold quinoa salad makes great leftovers and is perfect for a packed lunch!
Yup, just what I was thinking - tree frogs or fish (they CAN be 'kept in a sealed container for up to a week' - then, of course, they either die, or reproduce).
Okay, so the author of the site isn't going to tell me what Quinoa is, so I'm not going to ask again. The heck with her - we're moving on.
Bottom line is that the LAUSD introduced this 'most excellent' healthy menu for school kids and...
Kids stopped eating the food at the school.
This is bad for two reasons:
1. The 'wrong sort of' kids [future entrepreneurs] began selling contraband lunches to other kids (meals which included meat, sugar, flour, and starches). [Yes, even in LA, the 'markets' work - better squelch this movement before the kids morph into Conservatives]
2. The school district, not meeting their obligation to provide meals for 'X percentage of kids' was in jeopardy of losing their school lunch program funding - and nobody wants to lose their 'Obama Money' for lunches (for clarification on Obama Money, click here: Obama Money)
In the end, the school district abandoned feeding the children sticks and twigs and boldly reinstated French Toast Sticks as a proud member of the Food Pyramid, Triangle, Circle of Life, or whatever they're calling it today. The kids are once again eating processed, sugared, canned, and mechanically-separated meals - Yumm-O!
If your goal was to make even MORE children dependent upon the government, and less dependent on Mom and Dad? What would YOU do???
That's right - try really, really hard to give MORE federally-subsidized food away.
The District is embarking on new initiatives to create breakfast opportunities for our students, specifically the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) project. This is a new program pilot LAUSD is implementing at pilot schools to help increase access to breakfast meals to our students.
Currently, over 553,000 of our students qualify for a free/reduced price breakfast but only 29% of our total school population participates. With these staggering numbers, LAUSD is looking for ways to increase participation at breakfast [Moos Note: Fish and Tree Frogs?].
Some of the new innovative projects we looked at are providing breakfast in class, after the first bell or on their way to class. Recent studies have shown that schools who provide an in classroom breakfast or a grab ‘n go type of meal for their students show a significant increase in academic scores, decrease in absenteeism and tardiness and increase in their attention span and focus.
These great benefits are what we want for our students.
Breakfast in the Classroom works in a myriad of ways. The meals can be packed at the cafeteria and picked up in temperature controlled bags by the students and delivered to the classrooms. Students would then take a breakfast meal and use the roster attached to sign off if a meal was received. The grab ‘n go process creates an area near the entrance of the school for students to pick up a “grab bag” with a breakfast to take to their class to eat during homeroom or right before class starts.
[Yes, nothing says 'increased concentration' like eating a bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel at the beginning of the class period. From purely personal experience, I typically need to 'evacuate my bowels' immediately after the first meal of the day - but, you know, that's just me... Perhaps the school plans on beefing up it's supply of TP ('pape de toilette') and add more lavatory stalls for all those additional school-based 'discharges'?]
LAUSD School Breakfasts and Lunches: Food so good, they can't even give it away!!!
Let's get more kids out from under from their parents' un-skilled dietary care and place them under the watchful eyes of well-trained, caring, organized, and highly-benefited SEIU cafeteria workers...
Because no one loves you like the Cafeteria Men and Women wearing the Purple Shirt of quality -- the SEIU team!
LUNCH (AND NOW 'BREAKFAST') LOVE.
If you're not getting any from your Mom or Dad, you'll be getting it from your friendly SEIU school staff (soon).
