[LI] As the only Massachusetts based member of the Legal Insurrection team, I’ve taken it upon myself to provide you with a preview of the upcoming film ’Chappaquiddick" which details the events around the death of Mary Jo Kopechne and the aftermath for Ted Kennedy.
I haven’t seen the film yet but it’s not like there are spoilers for anyone familiar with American history. My greatest concern with this film is that it will somehow whitewash Kennedy’s responsibility for Kopechne’s death or Kennedy’s dirtbag behavior following the accident. As we know, Hollywood and the media have a tendency to rewrite history for people they like.
Ted Kennedy’s life was derailed that night? Really?
Here’s how People describes the film (emphasis is mine):
Nearly five decades ago, on July 18, 1969, a car went off the Dike Bridge on the island of Chappaquiddick. The driver, Ted Kennedy escaped. His 28-year-old passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, did not.
The result is a haunting look back into the mystery that surrounds that night when a group of six women who had worked for Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential bid, and six men, including Ted Kennedy, gathered for a party at a rented cottage on the island for a reunion party and ended in Kopechne’s death by drowning.
It’s really not a mystery. Kennedy walked away from the scene of a crime and let Kopechne drown because he was scared of what it would do to his political aspirations.
#5
My wife is a native Cape Codder and the only member of her family that despises the Kennedy clan. It is amazing how leftards (most of her family) can look at Chappaquiddick and not have even the slightest qualm about defending this scum.
#6
A Kennedy cousin of Truro
At Choate with the girls stoats is most thorough,
And though he's rejected,
None go uninspected,
So save him a spot at the Bureau.
[FINANCE.YAHOO] In the three years since Michael Brown’s fatal shooting in Ferguson, police body-worn cameras have been sold to the public as a tool that would primarily deter police misconduct. One of the main selling points is the claim that the devices would have a “civilizing effect” on officers. [Insert images of rampaging wild beasts]
Officers would behave better, the argument goes, if they knew their actions were being recorded. Camera vendors have told departments that their devices would reduce excessive uses of force and complaints against officers. But as it turns out, in one of America’s largest police departments, body-worn cameras did not produce any of these benefits. Meaning the complaints keep pouring in, despite the recorded evidence of good behavior by the coppers.
A landmark study recently released by the D.C. Metropolitan Police found that officers who wore cameras behaved in essentially the same ways as officers who did not. Why, that's terrible! Damn them!
The presence of cameras had no statistically significant impact on how often officers used force or on how many misconduct complaints the city received. Meaning most of them act as they've been trained to act.
The results raise an important question: If these benefits have not emerged, could the other claimed benefits of body-worn cameras -- increased transparency, accountability and trust -- also be false promises? Could they represent evidence that cops aren't as bad as they're made out to be?
So far, there’s little evidence to suggest that department-owned, officer-operated cameras will lead to any meaningful improvements. Perfection remains beyond their grasp...
To the contrary, a tool that’s viewed by some as one that can protect black lives is actually one that mainly helps those in blue. Well, that's certainly a scandal of epic proportions!
Departments nationwide have flocked to body-worn cameras as a fashionable and almost reflexive reform. But it’s becoming clearer by the day that body-worn cameras are not some magical turnkey response to police brutality. In the years since Ferguson, how many officers have actually been held accountable for their actions -- either fired, or in more severe cases indicted and convicted -- because of body-worn camera footage? We bet you can’t think of many. There hasn't been an epidemic of convictions, has there?
We remember many names -- Eric Garner from Staten Island, Tamir Rice from Cleveland, Walter Scott from North Charleston, Alton Sterling from Baton Rouge, Philando Castile from Minneapolis -- because we've seen the horrific videos. But remember: those videos came from bystanders’ phones and security cameras, not from police cameras. So the body cams don't deter police brutality, as evidenced by the fact that police involved in cases of brutality didn't have their cams on? That makes sense. Not a lot of sense, but sense of a sort.
This isn’t a coincidence. It’s officers who wear and operate body-worn cameras, and it’s the departments who own and control the recorded footage. Departments, often in negotiation with police unions, set the policies and procedures that guide the cameras’ use. So it should come as no surprise that body-worn camera policies around the country largely favor the interests of departments and their officers, often at the expense of the public’s interests. If they're on, that would seem to be in the public interest -- kinda like having a neutral observer present. If they're not on, have a good explanation ready.
In most major U.S. departments, there’s no easy way for the public to obtain body-worn camera footage, even (or perhaps especially) after high-profile uses of force. Something about "contaminating the jury pool."
A Texas state law, for example, prohibits all departments in the state from releasing any footage that documents a deadly force incident until the conclusion of all criminal and administrative proceedings, which could take months or even years. Moreover, departments in California routinely withhold all footage from the public, by categorically invoking the investigatory records exemption to the state’s public records law. Even absent such legal restrictions, departments reserve broad discretion to decide whether and when to release footage, which has allowed them to cherry-pick valiant footage for swift public release, while burying controversial footage. You'd think there would be public pressure for release, Pressure from parties neutral on the issue, for instance?
The lack of transparency is further imbalanced by the fact that departments almost always allow their own officers to watch camera footage before they write their initial reports. This makes it easier for officers to act for the camera and potentially create false narratives about what truly happened, even after a serious use of force. This is a devious twist that could make it even harder to hold officers accountable. It could also have something to do with good faith efforts to ensure that the facts are accurately presented. Several instances come to mind of big shots claiming brutality and discrimination being proven to be liars.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/22/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
yah, because knowing what actually happened is so.... counterproductive.....
#2
The results raise an important question: If these benefits have not emerged, could the other claimed benefits of body-worn cameras -- increased transparency, accountability and trust -- also be false promises?
Or does the use of body cameras show the disproportional feral behavior of a certain community? One that is not PC to acknowledge? Just like asking other news outlets not to say the 'race' of the offender in their reports.
#3
At some points the common characteristics of the % of the population committing most of the crimes/violence far exceeding their demographic becomes too obvious for PC to conceal. Feral youts with unfamiliar names, anyone?
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/22/2017 8:14 Comments ||
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#6
Body cams may or may not be a good thing. Haven't made my mid up yet.
The issue that will cost the states and municipalities dearly though, and create the most legal problems, will be the 'storage' and security for all those video files.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
12/22/2017 8:58 Comments ||
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#9
To,find about police policy’s in a major US city, try reading
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com. Here are comments from one article.
“COPA is signing complaints against officers after watching body camera videos. This is in total disregard of the general order that states officers cannot be punished for minor infractions after reviewing video footage.”
Posted by: Second City Cop ||
12/22/2017 12:13 Comments ||
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#10
Flyover jungle looks lush and verdant.
What you don't experience from the pictures is the roar of bugs, oppressive heat, plants and animals reaching out to slice, stick, sting or trip you, or the overwhelming stench of the garbage dump you are in.
That is the context stripped by the conflict cameras. They may help illustrate protocol compliance but they provide no sense of environment.
#11
the body cameras have not changed officer behavior because the officers have generally been following the rules of engagement handed down by their superiors which is why they keep getting let go when the facts come out.
A body camera will accelerate that and point out who is at fault rather quickly. I have noticed an absence of riots this year.
#12
many were saying they did not mind them other than being something more to remember when action starts, and you are correct. It is pointing out the reality to the courtroom finally proving the real issues in communities.
People Whom are skeptical may see more "transparency" and if done right may help solidify Our Justice system and clean out fraudulent cases as well as maybe providing communities the evidence to change.
#13
Mullah, data storage isn't the only thing to spend money on.
Madison coughed up $400,000 for a study (done by the usual suspects) to show that body cameras were important and which found (to the shock of nobody with eyes) that the Madison police were actually pretty good on the whole, and had much more liberal policies than most places in the country.
The police chief was chewed out for complaining that the money might have been spent on a few more officers (badly needed), or even for some of those cameras.
But, first things first. The grievance industry must get its share.
Posted by: james ||
12/22/2017 22:53 Comments ||
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] "War is ongoing in every part of Afghanistan. It’s the same war from yesterday. A big number of Ghor residents are involved in this war. Sit with them and ask them who is involved in this war? It is between two ethnic groups! In Taiwara, the conflict is not between security forces and murderous Moslems; it is between two ethnic groups. It is the same in Kunduz, in Baghlan, in all northern parts of the country. The real situation of the war is like this across the country," claimed Gulbuddin Hekmatyar ... who used to be known in intelligence circles as The Most Evil Man in the World but who now seems merely run-of-the-mill evil... during his party’s, Hizb-e-Islami, assembly.
Hekmatyar is a warlord, notoriously known for intentionally shelling civilians with
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
12/22/2017 00:00 ||
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[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The recent Iranian-Houthi missile which was intercepted South of Riyadh is yet another evidence as to why the Decisive Storm Operation in Yemen is an extreme necessity.
Can a big country like Saudi Arabia, which has been working towards a better future according to Vision 2030, tolerate this threat? The government announced its state budget on the same day when Houthis launched their Iranian-made missile towards the kingdom.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said: “Announcing the largest governmental expenditure program in the kingdom’s history is solid proof to the success of our efforts in improving public financial management despite the decrease of oil prices.”
Absurd Debate Discussing what the source of these missiles that are launched from Saadah, Hajjah and Imran is and whether they are Iranian-made or not is absurd. Hassan Nasrallah, for instance, has resorted to his usual rhetorical tricks to convince us that these missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers are manufactured by the highly strategic Houthi military industries!
It could be the case if the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ generals who operate these missiles in Yemen have been granted the Yemeni nationality! It’s undebatable that Iran’s ballistic capabilities are a huge source of threat to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the entire region and the world. Who can guarantee that these rockets with 2,000 kilometers range are not in the possession of the Iranian military party in Lebanon? Theoretically speaking, Europe would be within the range of these missiles.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian recently told reporters in Washington that France and the US are determined to “vigorously” increase pressure on Iran regarding its ballistic missiles’ program even if they have to resort to sanctions.
UN negative approach We have a problem with the UN’s negative approach in Yemen, specifically regarding the Houthi threat on regional security as UN missions have procrastinated in handling the supervision of the Hodeidah Port. Northern Yemen imports and humanitarian aid are delivered via this port which is under the Houthis’ control.
This is one example of the UN’s astray approach in Yemen.
The insistence of the UN and other institutions, whose political orientations cannot be relied on, to limit the Yemeni problem to the humanitarian angle is quite surprising because the deterioration of the humanitarian situation is actually a result of leniency with the terrorist Houthi militia whom prohibitions have been imposed on by the UN Security Council.
Yemeni President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi was right when he told envoys few days ago that UN representatives must efficiently inspect Yemen’s passages. Turki al-Maliki, the spokesperson of the coalition forces, had hinted at that as well.
After a missile was intercepted in Riyadh’s airspace, is it time for the UN to awake from its Yemeni illusion?
Posted by: Fred ||
12/22/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
UN, Saudi, Yemen, does it really matter any more than the color of your checkered tablecloth?
[Breitbart] Wednesday on CNN, former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod said with the passing of the Republican tax plan and other policies he has forwarded President Donald Trump "is doing consequential things."
Axelrod said, "It is advertised as something that will spur growth. We’ll see. The Fed and most experts suggest only modest job growth and gains. It is good for shareholders. But we will see all of that will reveal itself in the future. But it is a big policy shift, as these things often are. Certainly, on healthcare, it is going to make a big difference. It is added some preferences, taken some preferences out of the tax code. So this is big. His sort of rapid regulation of the environment, of consumer protection of finance, huge. His pulling out of global agreements, very, very big. So he is doing consequential things."
He continued, "I have doubts about whether the consequences are going to be positive, but you cannot deny this is an impactful piece of legislation, and he has had an impact with some of his other policies."
#1
Axelrod hedging his bets after the 2016 election prediction debacle. He can't say it but he knows the country will be much better off.
America is being made great again as we speak.
#2
He has doubts about whether the consequences are going to be positive for him. The fact that others exist who would benefit is completely out of his comprehension. It never entered his head to think about this and he would find it bizarre if you pointed it out to him.
Posted by: Herb McCoy7309 ||
12/22/2017 14:40 Comments ||
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I predicted that the end of this three-part story would involve President Trump’s critics complaining that indeed he was “effective, but we don’t like it.” Or words to that effect. I based that prediction on the assumption he would get some big wins by the end of the year and it would no longer make sense to question his effectiveness, only his policy choices.
[The Hill] Former CIA Director John Brennan slammed President Trump in a tweet Thursday, saying the president shows "qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats."
Brennan, a vocal critic of Trump, posted the comment shortly after joining Twitter on Thursday. He condemned Trump's tough stance against critics of his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
"Trump Admin threat to retaliate against nations that exercise sovereign right in UN to oppose US position on Jerusalem is beyond outrageous," tweeted Brennan, who led the CIA under former President Obama.
"Shows @realDonaldTrump expects blind loyalty and subservience from everyone‐qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats," he added.
#3
It's not Trump he fears, it's the 'uncovering' of illicit activities he and others are most concerned about. Their hand picked candidate lost the election, and elections have consequences. The only way to cloak their transgressions is through a constant media barrage of attacks on Trump in the hope something sticks.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
12/22/2017 8:38 Comments ||
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#9
John Brennan: Trump administration's threats over UN rebuke of Jerusalem decision 'narcissistic, vengeful
Actually, it's sort of something I would expect from someone who grew up in NYC (less trust fund snowflakes sheltered by mom and dad away from city streets). Capish?
h/t Instapundit
[VictoryGirlsBlog] ...The decision to move our Embassy is the decision of a sovereign nation made with the approval of another sovereign nation ‐ in this case Israel. How dare you tell us where we can put our diplomatic facilities? Just who the hell do you think you are?
I’m sure every tin-pot asshole will vote against us in the General Assembly, and I’m sure our allegedly "stalwart" allies will have no problem damaging our "special relationship" by giving us the finger, but you know what? I guess all those who spit on us can also live without our aid, without our leadership, without our military support and training, and without our friendship and trade too.
It’s high time we stopped getting insulted and abused by the very pathetic weaklings whom we support year after year, and who depend on our money and leadership for their very survival.
#4
I guess all those who spit on us can also live without our aid, without our leadership, without our military support and training, and without our friendship and trade too.
I am starting to apply that policy to my domestic relationships as well.
[IsraelTimes] Losing 128-9 hurts. But, thanks to Netanyahu's diplomatic outreach and Trump's threats to cut aid to states opposing his Jerusalem move, there's also some good news.
#1
I'm hoping Trump actually cuts funds to the lot of them. Also pulls US Nukes and NATO assigned troops out of Turkey, makes plans to pull them out of SKor and Japan since they dissed us and continues in that path around the globe.
That would do the budget some good and maybe throw the fear of god into some feckless "allies".
#5
Well, Trump (and his chum Jeff Session) seem to be all talk about Hillary, the FBI, etc., etc. So, why won't he be "all talk" about this as well. I guess that means we'll support the U.K., Australia, Germany, etc., less then, huh?
#12
And for the US hating MoFo's in the rest of this world... Remember there is a Neanderthal somewhere in the USA with your name ready to go on his trophy wall...
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[LI] As the only Massachusetts based member of the Legal Insurrection team, I’ve taken it upon myself to provide you with a preview of the upcoming film ’Chappaquiddick" which details the events around the death of Mary Jo Kopechne and the aftermath for Ted Kennedy.
[FINANCE.YAHOO] In the three years since Michael Brown’s fatal shooting in Ferguson, police body-worn cameras have been sold to the public as a tool that would primarily deter police misconduct. One of the main selling points is the claim that the devices would have a “civilizing effect” on officers.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
[The Hill] Former CIA Director John Brennan slammed President Trump in a tweet Thursday, saying the president shows "qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats."
