Fuck Second Amendment Rights, Give Me Back the Fourth Amendment!

This kind of thing happens all the time.  Cops burst into a house, guns drawn, fuck with everyone in the house, tear shit up, and then realize they've got the wrong place.  I want my country back:

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Police Violence Against Middle Aged Ladies

It is distressing to me that this story has gotten so little coverage in the major media. In case you haven't heard, here's a synopsis:

San Diego - Friday, June 26 - A middle aged lesbian couple in a nice neighborhood was holding a fundraiser for Francine Busby, a Democrat seeking state office. A short speech was made around 8pm using a small P.A. All the while a neighbor was shouting obscenities, especially anti-gay slurs. It would appear that the neighbor then called in a noise complaint. This was around 9pm and the noise ordinance doesn't come into effect until 10pm. Nonetheless the sheriff's department sent a deputy. This wasn't a rock concert, it was a small gathering (the cop says 50 people, the fundraisers say no more than 30) of mostly middle aged ladies. When one of the owners, 60 year old Shari Barman, questioned why the deputy needed her age since he had her name and address he proceeded to twist her arm behind her back and throw her to the ground. When the other partygoers protested and Barman's partner begged the deputy to be careful with Barman's arm as she'd just had shoulder surgery the deputy freaked out and pepper sprayed everyone within range in the face. He called in back-up which came in the form of six more cars, a helicopter, a fire truck, and a canine team!

“It was a private, quiet party,” Busby said. “I can't reiterate enough that there was never any noise.” ...

The American Civil Liberties Union also has weighed in, releasing a statement yesterday calling for the sheriff to release more information about “what appears to be a significant abuse of power by a peace officer who intruded into a person's home and reacted with unwarranted force to an unsubstantiated complaint alleging a minor infraction.” more

There is a lot of speculation that this was caused by steroid abuse. Whatever. This deputy is typical cop: vindictive, stupid, angry, mean, spiteful, dangerous and worst of all, armed. This is not an isolated incident. Cops are fucking insane in this country and we have to find some way to turn it around. There is a prison guard mentality that is endemic in law enforcement and the cliched "I am the law" approach is now standard but we continue to increase the number of crimes and we recruit the kind of knuckle dragging bullies that will beat anyone that argues with them. You show me one good cop and I'll show you at least one piece of shit that would be jailed if he didn't tend to fuck with the poor and helpless.

These wealthy San Diego ladies will probably get justice in the end, but its because they can afford it. We have two justice systems in this country, the one that favors the rich and the one that jails the poor. And lord help you if you're poor and black! They say there is no honor amongst thieves, but there is far less honor amongst cops.

Lipstick on a Pig

I hereby declare this to be one of the stupidest diversions the Nazis (a.k.a. Republicans) have come up with yet. Listen to this NPR piece and tell me you believe Obama was referring to Sarah Palin. They play the lines preceding the pig and lipstick lines and it is obvious he is talking about McCain's policies. Palin is not mentioned at all. You will hear several other politicians, including John McCain using this old saw in their speeches exactly as Obama used it.

The phrase "lipstick on a pig" is commonly employed by politicians including Senator John McCain, Vice President Dick Cheney and Rep. Charles Rangel. Farmer Joel Salatin of Swoope, Va., talks about what actually happens when one attempts to put lipstick on a pig.

Do you smell Karl Rove? Makes me wish for the smell of pig shit.