St Louis police murder scandal (PLUS: riots, idiotic press conferences, etc.)

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Obama speaking now, blamed both sides but emphasized the fault of the police. (Specifically calling them out for the peaceful protest attack and the journalist arrests).

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Obama speaking now, blamed both sides but emphasized the fault of the police. (Specifically calling them out for the peaceful protest attack and the journalist arrests).

Is he in golf shorts?

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Obama speaking now, blamed both sides but emphasized the fault of the police. (Specifically calling them out for the peaceful protest attack and the journalist arrests).

Is he in golf shorts?

In the suit as per usual. He looks incredibly gaunt though.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Obama speaking now, blamed both sides but emphasized the fault of the police. (Specifically calling them out for the peaceful protest attack and the journalist arrests).

How the hell can the protesters be blamed at all?! "You people shouldn't be enraged over the death of an innocent child"??

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The Ferguson Police Chief responds...

[King]

Obama speaking now, blamed both sides but emphasized the fault of the police. (Specifically calling them out for the peaceful protest attack and the journalist arrests).

Republican outrage will be to claim it's neither's fault, then?

[All Along The Watchtower]

Obama speaking now, blamed both sides but emphasized the fault of the police. (Specifically calling them out for the peaceful protest attack and the journalist arrests).

Republican outrage will be to claim it's neither's fault, then?

Nah. They'll blame the protesters (all while emphatically claiming that they're not racist and that racism is over but the real racists are reverse racists-which is totally a thing).

[Donerail]

Rand Paul delivers a much stronger statement than I've seen from any Dem.

[King]

Rand Paul has always been a horrible reverse-racist-black-sympathizer. He actually thinks voter suppression is more of a real issue than the fraud.

[Slander and/or Libel]

Steve King totally clears up that it's not about racism because the protestors are all black

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Rand Paul delivers a much stronger statement than I've seen from any Dem.

Yeah this is great and all, but as King said, Rand Paul literally opposes the Civil Rights Act because it strips business of their rights to deny service based on colour.

Steve King totally clears up that it's not about racism because the protestors are all black

Oh. My. God.

[Hamster]

Rand Paul delivers a much stronger statement than I've seen from any Dem.

I'm pleasantly surprised.

[Brittain33]

Rand Paul delivers a much stronger statement than I've seen from any Dem.

Yeah this is great and all, but as King said, Rand Paul literally opposes the Civil Rights Act because it strips business of their rights to deny service based on colour.

He appears to have changed his position on the Civil Rights Act to support - a change I think we should welcome.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/rand-pauls-civil-rights-pitch

[King]

lol "military cuts"

[Paul Kemp]

For those who think police are too heavily armed, Obama's military cuts are blurring the lines between police and the US military as the cuts have lead to usable (because there are no longer the funds needs to man and operate the equipment) military equipment to be offered to police forces at bargain basement prices.  Anything from Humvees to night vision to tactical squad helicopters have been passed down to the metropolitan police forces.  In many cases, the police departments are able to procure this equipment at less than 1% original costs.

Just because you can afford something doesn't mean you should have it.

[Lief 🗽]

Redlining Map of St. Louis from 1937 (Ferguson is in the upper right corner). Open in a new tab to see it fullsize.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

There is good reason to give local police forces tactical military equipment  - local police forces are in closer proximity to the nation’s infrastructure and will be the first respondents in the case of any terrorist event.

Then why is this military equipment only being used to shoot and kill blacks and protesters?

You can take it to the bank that military equipment that is going unused due to federal budget cuts is being handed out to metropolitan police forces.

You have already made this point, and it was unnecessary to make it again.

I have friends in police tactical units who been bragging over the last 6 months about all the advanced and heavy surplus gear being doled out from the military.

This is nothing to brag about.

[King]

I have no problem with "militarization" of police in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles where real violent crimes are committed and real terrorist targets exist. When you have a real job to do, there's no time for serious corruption and abuse.

The problem is these small towns and suburban police forces are given these tools with no legitimate use. "Let's call in the SWAT team for this because why not?"

[King]

I have no problem with "militarization" of police in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles where real violent crimes are committed and real terrorist targets exist. When you have a real job to do, there's no time for serious corruption and abuse.

The problem is these small towns and suburban police forces are given these tools with no legitimate use. "Let's call in the SWAT team for this because why not?"

St. Louis is home to the 3rd busiest inland port. They have been given advanced tactical military equipment to repeal and attack threats along the Miss. River.

This didn't happen in St. Louis. This happened in Ferguson.

[ElectionsGuy]

I have no problem with "militarization" of police in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles where real violent crimes are committed and real terrorist targets exist. When you have a real job to do, there's no time for serious corruption and abuse.

The problem is these small towns and suburban police forces are given these tools with no legitimate use. "Let's call in the SWAT team for this because why not?"

St. Louis is home to the 3rd busiest inland port. They have been given advanced tactical military equipment to repeal and attack threats along the Miss. River.

What makes you think they need weapons of war to protect and serve the citizens?

[Paul Kemp]

Look, I am just trying to provide you with information as to why police forces have become more heavily armed even though cities have faced hardships since the Great Recession, but you don't seem very appreciative.  You're a pushy little bastard, ain't you? But I like that.

Liking "pushy little bastards" was certainly indicated by your username, yes.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Look, I am just trying to provide you with information as to why police forces have become more heavily armed even though cities have faced hardships since the Great Recession, but you don't seem very appreciative.  You're a pushy little bastard, ain't you? But I like that.

You literally defended the Ferguson police for attacking peaceful protesters and referred to the protesters as "target practice."

If you're not a troll, then you're not of any respectable nature.

[Cassius]

The fact that there have been riots at all, ones in which vandalism and looting have occurred, underlines precisely why the Police need military equipment for dealing with these kind of situations.

[MaxQue]

Jay Nixon removed St. Louis County police from the situation. Security will now be done by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, whose chief is Black and grew in Ferguson.

Nixon also asked to the local police to publish the name of the shooter as quick as possible.

[Lief 🗽]

The fact that there have been riots at all, ones in which vandalism and looting have occurred, underlines precisely why the Police need military equipment for dealing with these kind of situations.

The only one rioting here is the police.