Justified!

[UPDATE Below - Showing the Real Face of Obama]
[UPDATE II - Showing the Real Face of Policing]
[UPDATE III - Digby Says It Best]

A broken rake handle justifies the use of lethal or deadly force.

According to the DA's review, Lundie ordered Garth to the ground but he did not comply and instead quickly advanced on Lundie with the rake handle “held high as if about to strike a potentially lethal blow.” [Emphasis added]

Refusal to immediately obey a police officer's "order to the ground" also justifies the use of lethal or deadly force.

This is the same precedent set in American-style justice as established by President Obama and his ordered killing of Osama bin Laden. The difference here merely an implication versus an accusation. The end results, however, are the same.

The Times-Standard reports today, Friday, May 6, 2011, that "DA determines officer-involved shooting was legal" - Sheriff's office cleared in last year's shooting on State Route 299.

Again, according to the report, we find two officers appearing on the scene of two men struggling over a weapon where deadly force is used to kill one of these men. Without knowing who the aggressor is and who is struggling to defend themselves, failure to instantly comply to the officer's orders results in a death.

In that report, Sheriff Mike "Downey said the shootings determination as lawful was not a surprise, but comes as a relief to the department." When you have an inbred system where one hand washes the other, I would guess not.

Downy also says something that is relevant to all people living in Humboldt County when speaking about the officer's involved in the shooting, who were "able" to duty shortly after the incident: "'They're at work,' Downey said. 'They're doing their jobs as they always have.'"

When two trained officers are supposedly forced and totally justified to use lethal force to deal with this kind of a situation, EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE is in immediate danger when confronted by any police officer. Any excuse that implies threat predetermines lethal force OVER arrest.

At the time it was reported that the so-called weapon, a broken rake handle, was not available for anyone to see. I don't see anything in the DA's report of the incident that addresses the "lethality" of the broke rake handle. Nor do I believe it was ever presented for public viewing. That broken metal rake handle goes right to the heart of "potentially lethal blow" since, apparently Robert Garth, the man shot, was using it to beat or assault another man. Which was the incident that first brought the deputies to the scene.

Lunging at someone with the threat of punching them out with your fist "held high as if about to strike a potentially lethal blow" can, in some circumstance, meet that justified standard. One really has to ask how business as usual is totally "justified" when such fragility was demonstrated by these officers.
[Source]

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[UPDATE :: Saturday, May 7, 2011 - Showing the REAL Face of Obama, President of these United States]

Is this the America we live in? One where President Barack Obama, “[T]arget(s) American citizens for assassination without a whiff of due process”? What's this got to do with the local police departments use of deadly or lethal force BEFORE arrest?

In Glenn Greenwald's latest, U.S. tries to assassinate U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, he says:

“The killing of bin Laden got the testosterone pumping, the righteousness pulsating, and faith in the American military and its Commander-in-Chief skyrocketing to all-time highs. It made America feel good about itself in a way that no other event has since at least Obama's inauguration; we got to forget about rampant unemployment, home foreclosures by the millions, a decade's worth of militaristic futility and slaughter, and ever-growing Third-World levels of wealth inequality. This was a week for flag-waving, fist-pumping, and nationalistic chanting: even -- especially -- among liberals, who were able to take the lead and show the world (and themselves) that they are no wilting, delicate wimps; it's not merely swaggering right-wing Texans, but they, too, who can put bullets in people's heads and dump corpses into the ocean and then joke and cheer about it afterwards. It's inconceivable that this wave of collective pride, boosted self-esteem, vicarious strength, and renewed purpose won't produce a desire to replicate itself. Four days after bin Laden is killed, a missile rains down from the sky to try to execute Awlaki without due process, and that'll be far from the last such episode (indeed, also yesterday, the U.S. launched a drone attack in Pakistan, ending the lives of 15 more people: yawn). ”

Yeah! YAWN. – Dead is dead, right? They're all mentally sick and deranged. So what?

I'd say that REAL face of Obama looks a whole lot like a banshee?

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[UPDATE :: Saturday, May 7, 2011 - What happens when kids refuse a cop's order]

Is this coming to Eureka and Humboldt County: "Cop Breaks a Kid's Arm and Tasers Him. His Offense? Saggy Pants."

In my book, communities that allow this kind of "overaggressive," over-policing - "the use of street-policing tactics against kids," deserve what they get.

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[UPDATE :: Monday, May 9, 2011]

Cause of death
by digby

The location was convenient anyway:

A Connecticut man who was causing a ruckus in the lobby of a hospital died after being shocked with a Taser by police.

Police were called to Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, Conn., at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday by employees complaining about a man causing a disturbance, the Hartford Courant reported.

Cops arrested the man and threw him in the back of their cruiser, where the man continued to act belligerent, police said.

One officer tasered the man and, shortly after, he fell unconscious.

He was rushed back to the hospital, where emergency crews tried to resuscitate him, but he died early Sunday morning.

Cops said an autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.
Oh why bother? He was obviously going to die of something else (aren't we all?) so the taser couldn't possibly be the cause of death. Therefore, he died of natural causes.

Seriously, they are likely to say that he had "excited delirium" the organic disease that only manifests itself in people who are tasered by police. Taser international has spent a lot of money on junkets convincing coroners that this junk science is real.

h/t to bb
digby 5/08/2011 02:30:00 PM

--Joe

Modern Day Vampires

Modern Day "Psychic or Energy" Vampires

There was this black hole and one day something, what looked like a filthy abomination, crawled out and someone focused on “It.” Light shined on “It” for the first time and "It" thought "It" was alive. Then someone else focused on "It" and "It" became more alive. Then "It" knew the source of life – get more “someone's” to focus their attention on “It.” “It” quickly learned the more “someone's” that focused all their attention on “It” the more powerful “It” became. “It” soon learned that “someone's” focused attention was good, but “someone's” source of light was even better. To get at that, the source of life, “It” needed consensual agreement or will. The unintended consequence for the poor “someone” was occupation, slavery and eventually, lose of life or death. For, you see, that filthy abomination was an evil parasite – a lie. "It" lived and dreamed only in "It's" mind. "It" had NO life within itself. "It" is, in the truest sense, an undead vampire. "It's" only worth or value is what "It" can suck out of others.

The more life and light “It” got from "It's" willing and unwilling subjects, the more beautiful “It” became. The brilliance of “It's” light was mesmerizing and blinding, all at the same time. In “It's” Minds's Eye “It” now became like God – knowing good and evil. “It” is quick to tell you what is right and wrong, how to think and what to believe – who and what you are.

Anyone that doesn't agree with “It's” right to judge, dictate and decree becomes a mortal threat to this illegitimate bastard's right to exist in whatever form "It" chooses. Throw into the mix a “legitimate someone,” "someone" with life within themselves, “someone” with self-worth, self-respect and a sense of self and the bastard liar is exposed.

An interesting article by Eric Taylor offers some identifying characteristics of an Energy Vampire well worth considering, if you are serious about saving or defending yourself:

1.They don’t smile sincerely.
2.They never belly laugh.
3.They show up late.
4.They are always complaining.
5.They gossip using 3rd party references. (my aunt said)
6.They very rarely volunteer (unless it makes them look good).
7.They always look for short cuts.
8.They always feel entitled.
9.They are ignorant.
10.They thrive on chaos.
11.They create chaos.
12.They like arguing.
13.They think they’re always right.
14.They’re unappreciative.
15.They’re rude.
16.They’re aloof.
17.They’re always complaining.
18.They spend time scheming instead of enjoying life.
19.They immediately point out the negative.
20.They compare.
21.They are quick to criticize.
22.They are paranoid.
23.They do not trust others (because they don’t trust themselves).
24.They seek first to be understood, before they understand.
25.They literally suck the life and enthusiasm out of everyone they meet.
26.They immediately make any room brighter — by leaving.

His solution once the Vampire is encountered and identified:

I encourage you to become acutely sensitive to the words and actions that identify an Energy Vampire, so you can get away from them as quickly as possible.

There is another way to defend yourself and that is to resist or reject them at the point of their attack. This is the situation that has confronted the Joe Blow Report for over a year now. We were attacked by one of these undead, illegitimate blood-suckers when the Report inadvertently focused on and revealed "It's" energy trap. This vampire has tried and tried to get the Report to focus on "It." "It" repeatedly comes on this blog and writes whatever "It" thinks serves "It's' interests regardless of previous conduct and statements. Here is the latest example, if you're interested:

Dave has left a new comment on your post ""God-Speak" and The Dreamer":

I'm still waiting to hear why you would have to move to Brazil if people knew who you were?
Did one of you do something wrong?
Posted by Dave to Joe Blow Report at July 10, 2010 7:10 PM

If you read "God-Speak" and the Dreamer you will readily see that his question is answered.

Relevance. The problem is not that I'm afraid or unable to protect and defend my family from predatory, racist lunatics that keep crawling out of the sewer assaulting anyone they think they can get at. The statement made is that the anonymity of the writer(s) of this Report should be considered a "gift." Problem is, the Dave Stancliff's of this world are too stupid to understand what that might mean.

 Now consider what he said in his previous statement:

Dave has left a new comment on your post "Warmonger Writes About Peace II" (Relevant parts only):

Just want to let you "all" know that I'm not going to write about you, because that's what you really want; some form of recognition.
****
Like I said, I'm not going to write about you because this appears to be your goal.

As you can readily see, if you've followed along, parasites and life suckers are easily defined. Rule #25 is probably as close to what and how I define and identify Energy Parasites. After any encounter you always walk away feeling really depressed – like two huge elephants just crapped on you and tried to bury you so that they wouldn't have to smell the murder they just committed. That's when I know I'd let my guard down and got bit.
 
By the way, these blood-sucking bastards can't bite you if they can't find you. -- [Source]

--Joe