Politics

Yes, it has been nine months since Katrina. Here it is June 1st. The dreaded day – the start of another hurricane season.

I think of all the people affected by last years hurricanes – every nite. After visiting the area in March I am still stunned. Dumb founded. Pissed. How can this country, my country, allow, tolerate, or perhaps ignore, what is NOT going on there?

I thought about posting the video footage I have from my trip but decided not to right now. Instead I ask that you go read Tim’s blog. Tim is a 44 year old civil engineer from New Orleans. I have read his blog for awhile now. Yesterday his post was very simple – yet right to the point. He put up the links to b.rox a site that has used video to document the reality of New Orleans. Please check out Tim’s Nameless Blog – Post K Life in New Orleans and b.box to watch their latest video.

I have not forgotten.

At times a wonder what ever happened to personal accountability. Taking responsibility for yourself and your children.

Tuesday an officer shot and killed a young man after the car driving by the man tried to run down the officer. The car hit the officer the officer now on the hood of the car shot at least 8 times and killed the driver of the car. I saw an interview on tv with the mother of the youngman where she made a statement along the lines that she did not thing that her son tried to kill the officer because if he wanted to the car would have been going faster and the officer would have broken legs or more injuries. The clip now on the news station web site has cut this part of the interview out – but I know what we heard her say. Video tapes from the shopping center where this all transpired back up the police officers version of the incident.

Now all the news hub bub is all about the young mans family another person in the vehicles oppinions on how the policeman was wrong, unjustified –

Meanwhile, the fourth person in the car, 18-year-old Hallie Boatright, said Wednesday that while the group did rob the victim, Gallegos was not attempting to hurt Howland and was only trying to make an escape when the officer opened fire.

“We were trying to avoid the cop and get between the cop and the cop car. Nobody tried to kill the cop, nobody tried to run over the cop, nobody said hit the cop,” Boatright said. “We weren’t even going that fast. We were trying to get between the cop and the cop car.”

“Next thing you know, the cop is on the hood of the car and he starts shooting into the car and he just keeps on shooting and shooting and everybody is like let’s go, let’s go,” Boatright said. Boatright was questioned by officers and released after the shooting.

Gallegos’ mother, Michelle Andrade, questioned how the car could have been traveling fast enough in the crowded parking lot of Natomas Marketplace to threaten the officer’s safety.

She also wondered if the officer was actually hit by the car, or instead voluntarily jumped on the vehicle’s hood to begin shooting into the vehicle.

Hello? They committed a crime, they robbed at gun point ( don’t think the victims knew it was fake), they hit a police officer with a car. The officer did his job, what he was trained to do, protect and serve all the innocent bystanders in the shopping center. Boo hoo, I am sorry that a young life has been wasted but it is what it is.

Next on my list is the mother whose son came home from school and complained that he did not like a book assignment he was given and it contained the usage of foul language and Gods name in vain. That is his right. It does not stop there – oh no – now mom wants ratings on all school reading assignments similar to those on movies and CD’s. So parents will know what their kids are reading. Ok, what was wrong with what my parents did. (First off I was lucky they are very well read and knew the contents of standard required readings – you know – the classics.) If you pay attention to your kids assignments and read the book yourself then you would know what language and ideas are included.

I do not want to get into the aspects that involve a well rounded education. If you are so worried about your childs assingments then read the book yourself! If you object ask for a substitute reading assingment for your child. This of course assumes that you can read or you are capable of overseeing your own childs upbringing. The schools are not for raising your kids folks, they are there to educate them.

Enough ranting for now

President Bush ignored the court in ordering National Security Agency (NSA) wiretapping.

Congress enacted law to ban phone companies from giving out information about customers’ calling habits.

The NSA reportedly collected such phone call records.

It’s been reported that the National Security Agency has been collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. It then analyzes calling patterns in an effort to identify possible terrorism suspects, without listening to or recording the conversations. The NSA secretly obtained the phone call records from the three biggest phone companies. One source said, “The agency’s goal is ‘to create a database of every call ever made’ within the nation’s borders.”

The Washington Post and ABC News conducted a poll of 502 Americans, and the next day reported that 63% favored the NSA’s actions.

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states the “right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects” and requires the government to get a warrant based on probable cause before a search.” Congress set up the FISA court to issue domestic search orders against agents of foreign powers and terrorist groups.

With all the other lies we have been asked to swallow, I find it hard to believe that only information on the numbers being dialed is being kept track of. I wonder: is there a connection between Echelon and the data-mining programs that have recently been exposed?

Craig at Donkey Path:

“The shadow of Big Brotherism should be enough for most Americans to question Bush’s NSA domestic spying programs, particularly given that the records of tens of millions of Americans are being collected.”

“Watching Bush’s falling poll numbers may be reassuring, but at some point, the American people have to say loud and clear: enough is enough.”

Hello? It’s the Constitution of the United States of America! I guess 63% 502 citizens just do not get “it”. As usual – Nobody asked me.

Here you go George:

today I called

• Kaiser
• Longs Drugs
• A Parking Garage