Fires in California - and Idiot Smokers!!!

Here is a fine article by Patt Morrison on the Huffington Post today.

Cigarette Butts and Buttheads in a Time of Fire

Posted October 25, 2007 | 09:52 AM (EST)
Truly, I did not think we made 'em that dim any more.

Driving out of a Los Angeles hillside neighborhood this week, I stopped for a red light. In the car in front of me, the driver was smoking, languidly hanging his cigarette hand out of the window between puffs.

The wind was up and dry leaves were stirring. I watched his cigarette hand the way the fellow in the crow's nest on the Titanic must have watched the looming iceberg.

And then he dropped the burning cigarette butt in the street.

I was, as the English say, gobsmacked. The radio was reporting more acreage, more homes chewed up by fire. The sun was being caramelized by the haze of smoke. The ash was blowing in wisps off my windshield wipers. And this man flicked a lighted cigarette out of his car.

I leaped out of my car and hurried to stomp on the smoldering butt, grinding it out in the street. ''Are you nuts?'' I told him loudly -- my voice was shaking from the astonishment at what I'd just seen. ''The state is burning up around here, and you toss out a lighted cigarette? That's how these fires start! Be careful!''

He responded with some obscene insults. Then the light changed.

It's a misdemeanor in California to toss a lighted cigarette or cigar or match like that, but the cops I called told me they couldn't do anything -- they had to see it happening.

Something of the same happened to me in February, in stopped traffic on a major freeway. A man dropped his burning cigarette out of his truck. When I told him that he'd get a ticket if the CHP saw him, he answered that they'd let him off -- he was a sheriff's deputy.

I wonder about that deputy now. Has he been out directing traffic as people evacuate their smoky neighborhoods? Does he live in Canyon Country or Santa Clarita, and is his own home threatened by fire?

And what do you suppose he'd say to some man who tossed away the glowing cigarette butt that started the fire that burned down his house?

And here are some of the responses to her post.

BillW
I volunteer twice per month for the Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway program, picking up trash next to a local freeway in the LA area. We don't even bother picking up cigarette butts, as they are too small and way too numerous.

It is not at all uncommon to encounter a circular burned patch in the freeway landscaping, 1 to 2 feet in diameter, with a burned-out butt in the center. So if you try and tell me that lit butts don't cause fires, I'll call you a liar to your face.

Anyone who throws any kind of trash, burning or otherwise, out of their vehicle is an irresposible jerk, and a criminal.

CA Vehicle Code Section 23111 - No person in any vehicle and no pedestrian shall throw or discharge from or upon any road or highway or adjoining area, public or private, any lighted or nonlighted cigarette, cigar, match, or any flaming or glowing substance.

Too bad it isn't enforced. :-(

Maybe now is the time, with the fires fresh on our minds, to lobby the CHP and other agencies to allow reporting of license plate numbers of violators. They allow this for suspected drunk drivers, surely the potential devastation and economic damage from fires would justify this as well?

If that doesn't happen, I'd like to see someone put up a website where citizens could post plate numbers and pictures of violators and their vehicles.

Please note that the first draft of this post contained much more colorful language than what you see above, but that would never have seen the light of day.
posted 12:37 pm on 10/25/2007
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MJS
It's actually a very neat trick: you toss out the butt yet inside the car the asshole remains.

++++
posted 12:20 pm on 10/25/2007
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wcs55
Not to mention it takes approx 50 to 60 years for the butt to biodegrade.
posted 11:54 am on 10/25/2007
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filabac
Bronceye sounds like the guy at our local gas station who was told to put out his cigarette while filling his kerosene can. He demostarated to the attendant how harmless the butt was by dropping it into the can. Both spent a month in the burn center.
posted 11:50 am on 10/25/2007
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BobbyJoe
A cigarette butt won't start a fire, eh? That sure isn't what the insurance investigators told my parents when some idiot who had been renting their vacation home burned the house down after flipping his butts into the bushes around the house (which had a non-smoking rule for renters in the first place). My family learned the hard way that burning cigarette butts can most definitely cause a fire, and if that University of Minnesota study is so well regarded, you might want to share it with some of the people whose job it is to investigate the causes of house fires for a living.
posted 11:44 am on 10/25/2007
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TREDHEK
"Try to start a fire with a cigarrette butt. It won't happen."

AND

"Granolas seem to over-react."

Huh? Cigarettes set fire to other material. Hundreds of people die each year in fires that are accidentally started by cigarettes.

http://firesafecigarettes.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=48&itemID=1190&URL=About%20fire-safe%20cigarettes/What%20is%20a%20fire-safe%20cigarette?

I can only speculate on why you personally are unable to start a fire with another fire.
posted 11:35 am on 10/25/2007
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inkslave
I have seen more than one fire started with a dropped cigarette. Helps if you're in the desert and there's a serious wind. Like in Cali, say.

Glad you stomped it out. Glad you didn't get shot. And even though he cussed you out, you'll be in that driver's head next time he hangs his butt out a car window. (sorry, couldn't resist)
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Darwin48
Patt, Patt, Patt..You poor misguided fool. You are thinking about others again. What did I tell you? America is the land of "It's all about me, me, me." If you tell someone that they are doing something wrong or harmful to others...that makes YOU the bad guy, not them. This guy was right to yell obscenities, you actually told him he is ignorant...and he wishes to remain ignorant of his own ignorance. I mean, come on, why should he care? He can barel put two and two together much less worry about starting another fire, besides, someone else would put it out. Right?

For homework, I want you to watch 24 hours of any reality TV show to quickly learn this ignorant selfishness that you obviously lack. You are thinking about consequences of people's actions, and this country has neither the time nor patience for that. Remember, we have a president and administration where there are no consequences. Now, please, go to the mall, remember, drive, preferably a large SUV, and buy something completely frivolous. And please, start thinking about yourself...everyone else is doing it.
posted 11:23 am on 10/25/2007
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KoolBreez

I have seen people smoking and using cell phones while pumping gas! Each one alone can ignite the whole gas station..

Disclaimer: I am not self-righteously against smoking.. Far from it..I think smoking is a disproportionately singled out addiction.
posted 11:23 am on 10/25/2007
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flatus

Katrina was a crisis for the poor. Now we have a crisis for the wealthy. Hmmm let's see how the differences pan out.

posted 11:22 am on 10/25/2007
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bronceye
Try to start a fire with a cigarrette butt. It won't happen. The University of Minnesota, about 20m yrs. or so ago tried it under controlled conditions. I camp a lot and I can't get a campfire going with a butt. You try it and tell us of any conflagration that ensues. Granolas seem to over-react. You would have a better chance of starting a fire by running in a pair of courderoy pants.
posted 10:53 am on 10/25/2007

Silverstar
Strange, we here in Washington have had several fires that were traced to lighted cigarette butts thrown from cars. And we are not usually known for our dry arid conditions and Santa Ana winds. If you can't start a campfire with a cigarette butt, you need drier tinder. And quit making excuses for your nasty habits, both smoking and leaving your butts all over the place.
posted 11:31 am on 10/25/2007
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NotMyPrez
at the very least, its disgusting litter.
posted 11:39 am on 10/25/2007
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Geoffreys
this time of year, grassfires are started here in Texas on a regular basis by cigarette butts tossed out a window. Its fairly commonplace to drive down the highway and see patches of burnt earth ...

Is this justice? You decide

In Sugarland, Texas, a 16 year old girl, Aston Glover, was murdered by Matthew McCombs.

His motive? Morbid curiosity!!!

McCombs pleaded guilty to murder and received a 50 year prison sentence.

McCombs must serve half of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Had he gone to trial on the murder charge Oct. 2 as scheduled and been convicted, McCombs faced a sentence ranging from five years to life in prison.

The death penalty was not applicable in this case because the circumstances of the slaying did not fall under any of the state laws that allow for capital punishment.

The victim's parents were consulted about the plea bargain and agreed to the 50 year sentence.

I suppose the parents were afraid he would receive the minimum of 5 years if it went to trial. I am of the opinion he should have received the dealth penalty. However, the death penalty was not applicable in this case because the circumstances of the slaying did not fall under any of the state laws that allow for capital punishment.

McCombs accomplice in the murder, Sean Brown's case is still pending and a hearing has been set for January.

For every criminal who was seen and caught dead to rights in committing murder, if they escape the death penalty, then all we can pray for is that if they are going to commit murder when they are released from prison, that their victim will be a person who opposes the death penalty. Mind you, I am not praying that they do commit murder when they are released, only if . . . . . . .

12 illegal immigrants found working at Fort Bliss

Sept. 14, 2007, 8:31PM
Associated Press

FORT BLISS, Texas — Twelve illegal immigrants working as landscapers at Fort Bliss were detained Friday by military police and turned over to immigration authorities, an official said.

All 12 had fake IDs and one had forged work papers, said Jean Offutt, the Fort Bliss public information officer. They were detained and then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Military police received a tip Friday about possible illegal immigrants working on post, Offutt said. They checked 335 workers for identification and found 12 with false IDs. The workers' countries of origin were unclear. A spokeswoman for ICE did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.

The immigrants all worked for subcontractors hired by Balfour Beatty, a contractor that has a landscaping contract for the post, Offutt said. Officials at the company did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.

A couple of questions here. Will this landscaping company be fined for hiring the illegals? Will the contract with the landscaping company be dropped? If the answer to one or both of these questions is no, then our Government is dropping the ball and the landscaping company will continue to hire illegals.

I applaud the Military Police for doing their job!!

One of the comments left about this article:

pephany wrote:
I think that the police should be worrying more about people who are doing a harm to the society, nand not about people who are trying to earn their daily bread...plus if the authorities would give them their papers so they could work they wouldn't have to make false ones...!!!

Does this person really think these illegals are doing no harm to society? Clogging our hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency problems, sucking our welfare systems dry, stealing peoples identities is doing no harm? Get real!

They are gonna fry this time!

Guard killed in Huntsville prison escape; inmates caught
A Texas corrections officer was killed this morning when she was run over by two inmates who escaped from a prison in Huntsville, authorities said.

The officer who was killed has been identified as Susan Canfield, a 59-year-old Correctional Officer IV with 85 months of service.

Jerry Duane Martin, 37, and John Falk, 40, escaped about 10:30 a.m. while they were on a work detail near the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Wynne Unit in Huntsville, officials said.

"They managed to overpower one of the correctional officers and took her weapon," said Jason Clark, a TDCJ spokesman.

They also stole a Huntsville city vehicle during their escape, Clark said.

"In the process of fleeing, they ran over the correctional officer," Clark said. "She died a short time later."

Martin was serving a 50 year prison sentence after he was charged with attempted capital murder in August 1994. He was accused of shooting at a Collin County sheriff's deputies and state troopers during a standoff in a field near McKinney that followed a high-speed car chase.

Falk was serving a life sentence for murder, Clark said.

Texas is known for the number of criminals who are put to death each year. If these two had been given the death sentence, then they would not have been allowed a work detail and Officer Canfield would be alive today.

My heart aches!

UPDATE!!

Below are opinions of people across the nation regarding this incident.

"I have been amazed at all the attention the Jena Six are getting. Hanging a noose from a tree is inconsiderate and stupid, but not a crime. Beating a person is a crime and should be punished. But why are these boys not being charged with a hate crime? I hope that common sense will take over someday. NORMAN WINTON"

Does this man not consider hanging the noose from a tree a hate crime?

"MichaelR wrote:
A five on one fight has not been suggested to be fair; but intent to murder far exceeds the act that was committed. The noose incident; an inflammatory and derogatory statement from one race to another that this is the way we once dealt with your insubordination. Neither of these are acceptable in this Nation!"

AMEN!

"Wen782 wrote:
All of those people are going down there to protest the situation... and yet the biggest killer of blacks is other blacks.

As for the noose thing... my opinion is, lock those little farts up for pulling that stupid stunt and hanging them up there. That was rude beyond common sense. Lock up the noose hangers and lock up the kids who beat up the other kid. Heck, lock them all up, let 'em beat the heck out of each other... At the rate that one kid's going, he'll wind up dead or in prison, anyway. Nice on getting the charges dropped and how they're avoiding the mention that he has four prior convictions. Real nice.

You rarely hear the race card played anymore when it's a black perp on a white vic. I don't get that. Why does it have to be black and white, anyway... I thought it had been established that we were all just people."

This is the first I had heard about prior convitions for one of the boys sentenced to prison.

"msblacklady wrote:
I beleve that the 6 young men should be released and all charges dropped. Children have been fighting everyday in school. We need to let it be just that a fight. On the other hand the white kid brought the gun to school he should have been the one charged the others just took it from him to keep him from shooting them. The district attorney is really out of line. The people should look into this behavior on his part. There may be more than any one really knows about but right now it looks like racism is alive and it needs to be stopped lets stop it here and go on and stopped racism all over the USA."

This gives one pause for thought!!

"Wen782 wrote:
First off, it's not my place to apologize for those people. Did I have anything to do with it? NO. I do feel bad for the kids who had to see those nooses hanging - that's a horrible and stupid thing. That kid did deserve to have his butt handed to him, but not by six kids.

I would go OFF on my kids if they pulled any cr*p like that and there would be no question at ALL that it wouldn't be tolerated. It should never have happened.

I feel that what those white kids did should be punished, but it should have been made a serious issue by the school and the parents (even more so) and not have required that the students themselves get into a fight over it.

Kids these days are stupid. They're not being raised to respect anyone but themselves and it really is turning into an "all about ME and no one else matters or has feelings" society.

By the way... real nice thinking the white kid would've had the charges dropped. I sure would hope not. If you're stupid and commit a crime, you should be punished for it. I would expect to be. If that's the case that more whites get away with stuff, then more black people need to get into law enforcement and be good leaders for youth and make sure the white kids are forced to toe the line just as you think the black kids are forced to toe it. Or maybe someone should just make the punishments harsher for juveniles so that they stop committing crimes because they can only be charged as kids. Obviously it doesn't work as a very good deterrant. I don't think whites are "better at getting away with crimes".

I don't give a cr*p what color that kid is that has the prior convictions. Let's just wait and see where he's at and what he's doing in 10 years. The situation down there may be changing the direction his life's taking, but if all this wasn't going on, I'd be willing to bet money that he, like so many other youths of ALL races, would just be a wart on the butt of society instead of being productive and good citizens where they live.

This whole situation shouldn't be happening. I'll grant that. The stuff like this all over the country needs to stop. There are far more important things that people could be focusing on and spending their time on, like illegal immigration and disease issues."

Another thought provoking comment from Wen782.

"naren wrote:
I’m Sorry, but they should all go to jail, because I know that IF six white kids had beaten a black kid, then there would be another protest by black people saying they deserve life in prison or the death penalty because it was a hate crime. Well yeah hanging nooses in a tree should have got the 3 guys in trouble, but there was no crime that they could be charged with. I’m tired of the NAACP, BET and other African American "RIGHTS GROUPS". If you want to play the race game, where is the group that fights for the white man that has better grades and scores than the black student, but the black student takes his space in the college because of the NAACP whining that there weren’t enough black college students, thus affirmative action was created. You always cry that blacks are mistreated, well I’m sorry but you bring it on yourselves."

This person makes some good points - then makes some bad points.

From the Seattle Post-Intelligence on 7/18 was an article by Amy Goldman It's still about race in Jena, La.. The following are comments from the article.

"posted by jem1
Racism did not die with the passage of the Civil Rights legislation. Local authorities throughout this country run their little dictator fiefdoms without challenge until exposed in the national media.

Any white man or woman can attest to the racist comments in normal white-only conversation from both men and women who believe all other whites believe the same racist themes. Many of them have their roots in the old Southern states of ante-bellum times. Racism is handed down from generation to generation whether still residing in the South or not.

The incidences of non-white people of many nationalities abused, tried, and convicted by tinhorn district attorneys supported by racist local business and elected officials continues despite the laws. Every small town or county in America is run by local business and landed gentry who consider themselves above all laws except their own. Poor whites are generally treated with similar disdain by the arrogant dictators, but may receive some relief just because of their skin color.

Small town and rural America is still the haven for the racist bigots who refuse to acknowledge the national laws in relation to race relations. The cost to overcome a bigoted, racist accusation is not within most citizens ability to fight without help from state and federal assistance. Too many times, the state is in collusion with its racist locals through political connections.

Rural Louisiana outside of New Orleans has always been hard-core racist. The land is owned by and operated as plantations by local corporations. Wealthy whites rule without any adherence to national law. Local media follow a very strict line in relation to race issues. The threat of violence against any dissenters is real from both elected police officials and local thugs. Those born and raised in the areas move to other states and spread their same bias to anyone who will listen.

This article by a respected journalist is one of the few times the racist operations in rural America has been exposed. The local bigot bugs immediately crawled out of the woodwork to reveal their allegiance to all things Aryan, KKK, Rush, O'Reilly, and their hatred of any legal support for individual rights of all citizens under the Constitution.

Crawl back into the woodwork, junior nazis, your specious diatribes only reveal the depth of your hatred for this nation."

That was one very thought provoking post!!!

"Posted by duaniac
F*** rednecks--I hate them. Good grief, did anyone in that hick town pick up a calendar lately? Did it say 2007? Really? Those people should pull their heads out of their butts.

It is so sad that is could happen in this country in the day and age. They should all be set free. Or is it ok to trash all of there lives over a fight where the "victim" was so injured he was home that afternoon?"

This is reverse racism. Even though I do believe the poster is white, the beginning comment of the post speaks of racism.

"Posted by gernot
I find it interesting that the libs did not note the rascist attack on the white boy involved six blacks. All we get from the PI, is the inordinate prosecution of the one individual involved. Is anyone surprised there is still racism in the South? Didn't you hear Mayor Ray Nagin talking about his "Chocolate City"? Racism is a two way street. Pity the PI thinks it's one way only."

Hmmmmm!

"Posted by Whulj
That's right, folks. Since some black people are racists, that makes it a-okay for white bigots to let 'er rip. Typical wingnut rationalization. They spend most of their days searching for any example of poor behavior to dilute the responsibility they should morally be taking for themselves. Like relying on Al Gore's mansion and jet-setting to excuse their own energy gluttony. Or fingering the latest jihad group to excuse the catastrophe they've created in Iraq. For the wingnut, there can be no change in their behavior or any community-oriented betterment until everyone else's behavior is entirely pristine. How convenient."

OK

"Posted by flyboy
Jena, Louisiana has a population under 3,000 and is near the center of LaSalle County - about 100 miles by road SW of Vicksburg and a long way from New Orleans. You can't get much closer to the deep south, or the Civil War in time or place.

People in Seattle can't understand what life was like for blacks in the deep south just 50 years ago. Yet life still hasn't changed much in places like Jena. Maybe the black-only schools and drinking fountains are gone. but the KKK is still there - third and fourth generation members. For these white-folks the concept of equality is as foreign as the Tibetan language.

Anyone with any talent, black or white, will leave the small towns like Jena. Nothing will change unless people like Amy shine the spotlight on the inequities - until the state or federal government takes an interest and charge these people with failure to enter the 21st century.

There are lots of places in the south that have accepted change, but there are still too many small towns just like Jena.

Apparently, there are people in Seattle who would fit right in with the white folks of Jena."

I think this individual speaks the sentiments for many of us.

"Posted by GlennW
Hanging nooses is not free speech. It's a hate crime and the DA should have been investigating who did that as well as the gun incident by the white students. Reporting injustices is not "playing the race card." I believe one Black student is already facing 20 years in prison and the others could be sentenced to more for standing up for their rights and what is basically a school fight. It's an outrage. It's only because they are Black that they are receivng this kind of treatment.

This type of racism and injustice should be brought to National attention and it's the kind of real reporting Amy Goodman has been doing for years.

And Bill Cosby is an old fart who is conservative. He blames black kids for their poverty but injustice and racism are alive and well in this society as this case and some comments on this Forum show."

I think more people need to really pay attention to what Bill Cosby is saying. He may be rich and conservative today, but when he was young, he was just another poor black kid. So he knows of what he speaks.

"Posted by Kenny0873
I will preface my comments by saying that I grew up in Southeast Texas in a town (Jasper) that endured a hate crime in 1998 that got national attention. Jasper was a great place to grow up and I'm not racist by any means, but the concepts of racism coming from both sides is still very much alive there and apparently all over the south. Most of the time it's subtle, but it most definitely exists and seeing it there and here on this board is very disturbing.
It may never go away, sadly. Places like Jena and Jasper are in bad shape economically and most people that get decent educations do leave. They learn that there's a big world out there that doesn't see people as black or white and that those people should be judged solely by who they are and what they do. People do stay in those places and struggle just like the generations before them and unfortunately, the cycle repeats itself. The thing that I've learned is that it's all over the place and a bigger problem than I ever realized.
I truly hope that Governor Blanco will take a stand and stand up for those kids. To me, it would be a huge step in the right direction and maybe it would even open an eye or two in places where people really need to wake up and see what's going on."

This is a person who speaks from first hand experience and from his/her heart.

"Posted by tuddo
Last year the bus I was on traveling from Baton Rouge to Dallas broke down in a very small town in La. There was on gas station and one small cafe in town. Since it was almost midnihght, most of the people stayed on the bus to sleep. However, a highly decorated staff sargeant, veteran of Iraq and I went to the cafe. There was still a sign I had not seen very often since the 70's, "Blacks served in rear". I thought it must be still up for sick humor or nostalgia, but they were serious. These racists would not serve the sargeant because he was Black unless he went around back to a separate counter. Sounds like a town similar to Jena. The sargeant sighed and went back to the bus. I asked him if he wanted to stand up for his rights, and he said it wasn't worth it, he would probably be put in jail. Even in places where it is not as overt as this one, racism permeates the rural South and many parts of America."

Oh, how I wish the poster had named the small town. I would like to have taken a trip there and given the owner of that station a piece of my mind!!!

"Posted by 10,000 Stars
Wow, it's crazy to hear about this kind of racism still happening in the USA. I'm glad this story was published. I didn't know it was still this bad in some places--well, I didn't really know, anyway.

And then it gets justified by posters in this comments section, too! I'm white, but I think I'd have a hard time buying into the basic tenets of our society if I were black (anotherwords, I'd feel alienated from the society I live in), since it's a society that still contains so much virulent hatred against me based on the color of my skin. Rightly or wrongly, it would be so hard for me to get a decent perspective on that kind of hatred and remain a positive person with a life that is moving forward.

We need to make sure that just because these tiny little towns are stuck away in odd places about which we city people don't usually think too much, they aren't legally allowed to get away with all this creepy evil stuff and ruining people's lives just because they aren't the "right color."

Well said!!!

"Posted by wsdeek
Lex i am so glad we are having this discussion.

wdseek~ You are a perfect template for the white liberal male.......
Don't you see how bigoted it is to say: Too bad I'm a BLACK male that has lived around the world

"Yes the change needs to come from within, but it also needs some help and understanding from without. ".i.e "the white man"... I have no shame in saying this. Everyone needs an assist now and again. Civil rights advanced in the 60s because people of all races came together to end the injustices that threatened all of us. Would the white community helping the black one be an easy task or easily accepted? No, not all. Is there any guarantee of success? None whatsoever.

What you are De facto saying is.."The blacks need me, the lilly white guy to help them get out of this mess. They are obviously too stupid to do it on their own."

You asked: "Why cannot white men affect change in the black community?.....again, this is a classic example of unintended bigotry.

So are not these blacks Americans? Are there laws that prevents whites from helping blacks? Would not making sure we all have equal and superior education, good paying jobs and equality for all of us, help all of us?

Men like Bill Cosby do not want your help. He wants his community to raise themselves. Hope this gets through to the brain housing group. I am black. Is the responsibility of every black person to help every other black person? Is the responsibility of every white person to help every other white person?

I have offered some positive solutions. Where are yours?"

I have not included any of the posts from Lex - they ramble and at times "incoherent"! But this was a good post.

"Posted by Phantasteek
This sound-off reinforces what I've seen in my national and international travels, and dealings with people of all cultures--racism is alive and well EVERYWHERE. There are examples of hatred from every ethnicity to every other ethnicity. And then if people don't hate each other for the basic reason of their skin color, they use economic, idealogical, religious, or political differences as justification for hating each other.

There's no such thing as civilized debate, people from either side of any fence just scream their personal insults back and forth and nothing is accomplished. The anonymity of the internet has only increased this kind of angry discourse."

Whoa - everyone needs to let this sink in!!

"Posted by KaninZ
Having grown up in South Carolina, I can state from personal experience that the legal system is ALL about race and class.
There are two types of justice in the South. Justice that applies to the "Good Old Boys" and Justice that is used to keep the rest of the "colored folk and po' white trash" in their place.
One place I lived (Liberty, SC) even had an old oak tree that was something of a shrine. It was known as "The hanging tree" and was looked on by the local police with more than a little nostalgia for the good ole days."

How truly sad - when will this nation ever get beyond that mentality?

"Posted by Bizy-G
Believe it or not, some conservatives add rational voices to these soundoffs. Unfortunately, some liberals here believe that nothing a conservative states can be rational, which is absurd.
I'm sure Amy Goodman is well respected by her peers, so is Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. The problem is that neither side really wants to get to the WHOLE story, only to paint it within the framework of their own ideological views. If Amy Goodman were really a good reporter, I would have no problem with her, the problem is that she's not a reporter, shes a commentator. If she were a reporter, we would be able to reach our own conclusions about the stories she writes, but she's not a reporter.
She's also an anthropologist, and as such, she should have a better insight into human "nature" than the average lay person. She probably does, and uses that knowledge to craft pieces which will get the desired response from her (to quote one of the "drive-by" posters) sheeple. Throughout history and today, people around the world are persecuted because of the color of their skin or the shape of their nose, or even their physical stature. That is simply human nature. The only way to change that is to impose on others a value set different from one which they've developed on their own. You may see where I'm going with this, so I'll keep it short. Basically, it boils down to who minds the minders.
I think most of the seattle liberals (slibs) would totally agree with me if they thought I was talking about the fascism of the current administration. But they know me, and know I'm not talking about that, so I'll be beat down with the written word in an effort to force me to comply with their minding."

"She's also an anthropologist, and as such, she should have a better insight into human "nature" than the average lay person." Does this poster not think that even anthropologists, who do have inside into human nature, are not bigots? Does anyone truly believe that all reporters/writers/opinionators have 100% no discriminating bone in their body? In what world? I am not at all disputing Amy Goodman. Only the posters take that just because a person (any person) is an anthropologist, they are not bigoted or partisan.


Perhaps living in the suburbs of Los Angeles for 37 years has "sheltered" me from the harsh reality that the "South" STILL treats blacks as second rate citizens. I was raised in a small farming community in Texas. It was at a time when the schools were still segregated. Desegregation came about my senior year of high school, but by then I was living in a large metropolis in an area where blacks did not live. So, no, I never attended school with blacks. It was my first job upon graduation of high school that I actually had my first social contact with blacks. Certainly my eyes noticed a difference in the color of their skin. But otherwise, they were just another human being, no different from myself.

In my environment, there was never any hostility towards the blacks (or at least, not that I was aware of). There was no animosity on either side.

Then I moved to Southern California. Again, I worked with blacks, all very nice people. I only heard about the conflicts with the blacks in Watts. It really was not until the Rodney King riots that I came face to face with the reality of the bitterness the blacks felt towards the white. What was ironic was that these blacks that started/created the riots burned down their own neighborhoods. How much sense did that make?

It was a very long recovery for that area of Los Angeles. But the bitterness remained. Today it comes out in the form of gangs. There are black gangs, Asian gangs and Hispanic gangs (and, not to overlook them, there are even some white gangs, but few).

But I have never seen or heard anywhere I have lived the mental attitude that apparently still exists in the "old South" towards blacks.

My heart literally sank when I first began hearing about Jena, LA. I could not believe that in 2007, blacks were still being treated as second class citizens. That in Jena, LA. at a high school, there was a designated "white" tree on the campus. That the administrators at that school would even allow such a thing is beyond my realm of thinking. This is 2007 for cripes sakes!

And then to read that because a black student had ask if he could stand under the "white" tree, he had been denied the "privilege" and instead, some white students hung a noose on one of the tree limbs to get the message across to the blacks - loud and clear.

And still, the administrators only took meaningless actions. Put yourself in the shoes of the blacks of that school. How would you feel?

I am certainly not condoning the actions of the black students. But since the dawn of time (or at least the dawn of organized schools) there have been school fights between boys.

Now that the black youths have been tried and found guilty, we need to look beyond their wrongs. We need to look at the meaningless action taken against the white students involved. And we need to look at the actions (or lack of actions) of the school district and its administrators. Every school district in the United States receives State and Federal monies. Starting with the Federal Government, they should immediately pull all funding and then the State should do likewise. Or the State should take over the district (this only if the State is not in agreement with the actions of the administrators and the treatment of the black students).

It boggles my mind that after the judgement handed down in Jena, people today feel that the protests are unwarranted and stupid. This is what the civil rights movement was about.

Perhaps we need another Martin Luther King alive today to help the citizens of the United States realize that we are all equal. And for anyone to think that the Rev. Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton could step into those big shoes would be a fool. These two individuals do more to incite the situations than any human alive. In order for their voice to be valid, they need to show the same fiery sentiment to those whites who have suffered injustice just as their own people have. To do otherwise is in it self a form of discrimination.

Today my heart aches - that here in the United States of America still lives a group of people that have no tolerance for others.

Unfrigginbelievable!!!

12-year-old gives birth in bathroom
A 12-year-old girl gave birth to a girl in her bathroom Wednesday before a neighbor and the baby's 16-year-old father brought the child to a Medical Center.

Police were called to the hospital about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday about the baby, according to a police news release.

Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the baby being delivered in the bathroom. Police are not releasing the names of the young parents or the address of the residence.

Police said paramedics treated the young mother at the house before she was taken to the hospital where she was later released and described as being in good condition.

"Right now both the baby and the 12-year-old fall under the umbrella of CPS (Child Protective Services)," police said.

The parents have been in a relationship for more than a year.

After the baby was treated Wednesday at the hospital, it was transferred to a hospital where on Thursday the child was listed in fair condition.

Police said they informed the young girl's parents about the baby and the circumstances surrounding the delivery.

Where the hell have her parents been? Why were they allowing this child to have a boyfriend at 11? Why was this girl not being treated as a child and as such, being allow so much freedom that this could have happened? Was she attending school? If so, her teachers did not see anything out of the ordinary (geez, a 12 year old pregnant, well it has so show somehow, don't you think?)? If she was not in school, then the parents should be charged.

Nothing was said about whether the "father" (and I say that very lightly!!) was arrested.

This is just too gall darn ridiculous that people have children but never take on the responsibility of a parent.

That baby should be taken away permanently and put up for adoption. The "mother" is too young to take care of it and her parents - well they could not take care of their 11 year old daughter, what makes anyone think they would do a better job with the baby?

And while the police are at it, I think the parents should be charged with child negligence!!!

Mexican Pres Calderon Criticizes US Border Fences, "Humiliating Treatment" Of Illegal Immigrants

Strong words for America, stern warnings for Mexico
Chris Hawley
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Sept. 2, 2007 03:40 PM
MEXICO CITY - Mexico's president drew a standing ovation from legislators as he chided Americans for new border fences and their "humiliating treatment" of illegal immigrants during his State of the Union speech on Sunday.

But President Felipe Calderón leveled criticism at his own country as well, warning that Mexico is headed for a crisis if it does not create more jobs, improve education, crack down on tax evaders and find an alternative to its dwindling oil reserves.

And in an article in the Houston Chronicle:

President Felipe Calderon blasted U.S. immigration policies on Sunday and promised to fight harder to protect the rights of Mexicans in the U.S., saying "Mexico does not end at its borders."

The criticism earned Calderon a standing ovation during his first state-of-the nation address.

"We strongly protest the unilateral measures taken by the U.S. Congress and government that have only persecuted and exacerbated the mistreatment of Mexican undocumented workers," he said. "The insensitivity toward those who support the U.S. economy and society has only served as an impetus to reinforce the battle ... for their rights."

He also reached out to the millions of Mexicans living in the United States, many illegally, saying: "Where there is a Mexican, there is Mexico."

Mexico seems intent on reclaiming the part of the United States that they feel was stolen from them!!!

If you think "your people" are being treated unfairly, then tell "your people" to come home - that should solve their unfair treatment. Doesn't get any simpler than that!!

Oh, wait, are they being treated fairly in their own country? If not, then Calderon has no business telling the United States to treat his countrymen fairly!!!

Don't let the door hit your behind on your way out!!

A self-described pedophile is leaving California after a judge ordered him to stay away permanently from places where children gather, the man told a TV station for a report that aired today.

"I have to leave the state, really, I can't live here under this Orwellian protocol," Jack McClellan told KABC. "It's nightmarish."

McClellan did not say where he planned to go, and he did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone.

He has been unemployed and living out of his car since arriving in Southern California this summer from Washington.

Pity the state he decides to live in.

Say NO to Basing Congress Seats on Illegals!

Tell Congress to Support Support Only Counting U.S. Citizens
ALERT: As you may know, the U.S. Constitution requires the Census Bureau to count everyone in the census. The once-a-decade population count is then used to apportion seats in Congress and to appropriate billions of dollars in federal spending each year.

What you may not know is that the Census Bureau also counts illegal immigrants in their population count -- and those illegals help determine Congressional seats too!

Because illegal immigrants are counted in the process of apportioning districts, they skew Congressional Representation by giving districts with very few citizens the same voice as districts that sometimes have up to three times the number of citizens.

Furthermore, because the Constitution allows for illegal immigrants to weight district size, certain illegal immigrant-heavy states enjoy undue influence in Presidential elections because they are granted more Congressional seats, and therefore more representation in the Electoral College than they would have if illegal aliens were not considered.

This makes absolutely no sense. Apportioning Congressional seats, divvying up taxpayer dollars and determining the President of the United States should be based on numbers of citizens, not illegal aliens!

Thankfully, there IS something we can do about this.

Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) has introduced H.J. Res. 6, to amend the U.S. Constitution so that only legal citizens are represented in Congress and in Presidential elections. The bill calls for an amendment to ensure only citizens of the United States are counted and considered when Congressional Districts are allocated. It simply reads: "Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by counting the number of persons in each State who are citizens of the United States."

Rep. Miller has introduced this bill -- now WE have to push our Congressmen to PASS it!

The new employer-sanctioned Illegal documentation

Undocumented immigrants are starting to leave Arizona because of the new employer-sanctions law

Yea - but where are they going? For sure, not fleeing south to Mexico. Here in California, we don't need anymore, thank you. We have enough.

Arizona illegal immigrants not allowed to visit inmates in jail

And if they do try - just put their butts right there in jail for breaking two laws - entering the United States illegally and attempting to visit an inmate in jail.

Real simple!! They ought to nail quite a few illegal immigrants that way, don't you think?

America without illegals

In doing this piece, I will be concentrating on the illegals from Mexico. Not because I am a racist, but because 1) the majority of illegals are from Mexico and 2) this piece is about what effect it will do to the United States without them here.

The loudest rage about the need for the illegals here is to do the jobs that the American's won't do - topmost, working the farm fields.

What will happen? The people/companies that hired these illegals will be out of business. Odds are, they will have to move their business south of the border. That works for me! I do not have a problem paying a little more for my produce if the company and all its workers live south of the border.

To date, this country imports a large volume of our produce from Mexico and Central and South America. Sure, they cost more. But I would pay the extra for the produce. Why? Because in the long run, it would cost me less to pay the extra for the produce than it currently does to pay for the medical costs, education, and subsidies that the illegals get while here in the United States.

Since the companies would now be south of the border, that is where the work for them would be and they could "migrate" back to their homeland where jobs await them. They would no longer have the excuse of coming to the United States for work.

And when they return to their homelands, they can put their protesting skills to work to fight for their rights there.

I think this is a workable solution. What do you think??

Archives of Political Cartoons

For anyone who knows who Ann Richards was, you will understand this cartoon. If you never heard of her, you missed out on alot. This was a Texan through and through. She had served as a governor of Texas. She spoke her mind and you always knew what she was thinking. She was not one to mince words, colorful as they were. No matter what side of the political line you took, she was a person who was respected by all.

U.S. Weighs Anti-Drug Trafficking Aid For Mexico

Aug 8, 2007 1:24 pm US/Pacific
(AP) WASHINGTON President Bush will propose tens of millions of dollars in assistance to Mexico to fight drug trafficking and violence that has ravaged the country and threatens to spill over into the U.S., a Texas congressman said Wednesday.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said Congress will come up with the final sum to assist Mexico.

Officials said they began to talk with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon about new and substantial counter-narcotics aid shortly after he took office in December.

U.S. anti-drug officials have been impressed with Calderon's crackdown on drug traffickers since he took office. From December through June, Calderon sent more than 24,000 troops to areas plagued by drug violence.

Calderon has repeatedly pushed the U.S. to take more responsibility in fighting the two countries' common drug problem, including doing more to stop the flow of illegal U.S. arms into Mexico and trying to combat the demand for drugs north of the border.

Calderon has said he will work with the U.S. in any way possible to bring down Mexican drug lords.

Ok - so Mexico wants our help to stem the drug traffiking. How about the US make him a counter offer. We help you with stem the drug traffiking, you get your people who are in the US illegally back into your own country and help them in a way that makes it profitable for them to remain in Mexico.

Gee, I think that is a super plan. Very simple but effective.

But, do you think Congress could possibly deal with something so simple? Noooooo! Way too easy.

Can you guess who this is referring to??

Imagine if the entire world had you on camera every step of the way and you're sitting there trying to remember which lie you told, when, and to whom. It would have to be exhausting.

Anyone who's told just a single lie -- white or otherwise -- knows the mental acrobatics required to keep the story straight, just in the face of a skeptical friend or inquisitive co-worker. Imagine having to run a 6-year string of bull***t past the eyes of the world. Day after day. Press conference after press conference. Not to mention keeping one's poker face under the searing, armor-piercing questions of Larry King. This kind of thing would have to take a physical toll on any person of normal strength and intelligence.

Who knows the effect it's having on the two people. One's old and mean. The other's selfish and stupid. Just imagine the mental and physical exhaustion involved in keeping up this level of mendacity for so many years...

* Compassionate Conservativism. (Like a rhyme. It makes us sound like we give a crap about poor folks, but we really don't. Neat.")
* No Child Left Behind. ("Education? Right. Just call me Veto Corleone.")
* Restoring integrity to the White House.
* We need to privatize Social Security.
* Harriet Miers would make a terrific Supreme Court justice.
* The jury's still out on Evolution.
* The jury's still out on Global Warming. ("Wanna see some greenhouse gasses? Pull my finger.")
* We're going to git Osama. We're gonna hunt him down. ("I look tough holding this megaphone. Gives me a boner.")
* I really don't think much about Osama.
* Pakistan? ("Musharraf says he's not there. He went down to them caves personally and yelled out "Marco." And no one said "Polo." I think that's pretty clear.")
* Saddam attacked us on 9/11.
* 9/11 was perpetrated by "evil doers." ("Like that scary, bony-lookin' guy in Star Wars.")
* Saddam has weapons of mass destruction. Chemical, biological, and nucular.
* Saddam bought yellow cake uranium tubes from Niger. ("I like yellow cake. Especially when it's got that chocolate frostin' on it. I like to lick my finger and scoop it up when no one's lookin'.")
* Don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.
* We'll be greeted as liberators.
* We're fightin' a war on terror.
* The war will pay for itself.
* Mission Accomplished.
* We didn't know about the levees.
* Heck of a job, Brownie.
* We're bringing Democracy to the Middle East.
* Our brave fighting men and women will get the finest care in the world.
* Walter Reed? ("I ain't got money to fix a hospital; I'm fightin' a war, dammit.")
* I will await the findings of the 9/11 commission.
* "Screw the 9/11 commission." I don't care if everyone in the world except Laura and Barney disagree; I'm still not pulling out.
* The Federal prosecutors were fired for poor job performance.
* If anyone in my administration leaked a CIA agent's name, they're gone.
* No one in my administration leaked the name.
* Take a walk, Scooter.
* Ok, someone in my administration leaked the name, but let's move on.
* It's not the Congress' job to run the war.
* It's not an escalation; it's a surge. (Surge,' is a good word. People will like it. Makes us sound tough. Like we got a boner.)
* I'm the decider.
* General Petraeus is the decider.
* I have full confidence in Alberto Gonzalez. He serves at the pleasure of me.
* Harriet Miers is not testifying. (She's so short, I told her to crouch down real low so they can't find her. Can't serve her if they can't find her.)
* Al Qaeda in Iraq is part of regular Al Qaeda. ("It's like a franchise. Like Dairy Queen. Don't you see? They even wear those snow cones on their heads.")
* We need Guantanemo. ("The evil doers have the secret battle plans and they ain't gonna give 'em up, voluntarily.
* Waterboarding? Surfboarding? Hell, all sounds like a day at the beach to me. Still don't git how we got a base in Cuba. Maybe it's like some kind of Commie time share.")
* I swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Exhausting. And I'm just working from memory. Imagine if the entire world had you on camera every step of the way and you're sitting there trying to remember which lie you told, when, and to whom. It would have to be exhausting. Now, maybe the President did just have a routine Colonoscopy. And maybe Cheney just took a trip to Replicant Jiffy Lube. Or maybe this is what happens when people have to juggle this many lies for so long. Eventually, it would have to grind you down, haunt your dreams, and plague your every waking moment-- like the Tell Tale Heart-- and that could manifest itself physically.

So, if the President should suddenly come down with a case of Shingles. Or if Cheney's power source should misfire and sparks start to fly out of his head, like Yul Brynner at the end of West World. Or if Karl Rove's ED should recur. Or if Alberto Gonzalez should become the victim of uncontrollable flatulence. Perhaps they're the cumulative signs of White House PTSD. As a nation at war, we can only watch...and wait...and hope.

Thanks, Ian Gurvitz, for the real eye opener!!

A Pedophile Has Found Another Way Around the Law!!

LOS ANGELES, July 27 — The search for the self-described pedophile in the large-brimmed black hat commences nearly every day here, with findings posted on chat rooms frequented by mothers.

Jack McClellan, who calls himself a pedophile, has had Web sites in Seattle and Los Angeles detailing how and where he trolls for children.

He was spotted at a fair in Santa Clarita. He recently emerged from the Social Security office on Olympic Boulevard. He tapped away on a computer at the library in Mar Vista. Warnings have gone out. Signs have been posted.

And yet unlike convicted sex offenders, who are required to stay away from places that cater to children, in this case the police can do next to nothing, because this man, Jack McClellan, who has had Web sites detailing how and where he likes to troll for children, appears to be doing nothing illegal.

This is a must read - please click here to read the entire article.

You will need to register to log in to read it, but please do not hesitate to do so. It is very important!!!

Judge shoots down State/Local Government enforcing illegal immigration laws!!

A federal judge's ruling that a Pennsylvania city may not enforce its tough anti-illegal immigration law could decide the fate of copycat measures adopted in other communities around the U.S.

U.S. District Judge James Munley found fault with just about every aspect of Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which he struck down Thursday in a 206-page opinion that declared states and municipalities have no business trying to stem illegal immigration.

Munley's decision applies only to Hazleton, but legal experts say it could lead to similar rulings elsewhere. The judge wrote: “We cannot say clearly enough that persons who enter this country without legal authorization are not stripped immediately of all their rights because of this single illegal act.”

The decision is a road map for judges "inclined to find in favor of immigrant advocates," said Peter Spiro, who teaches immigration law at Temple University.

"This is a big victory for immigrants rights advocates ... in the first major case addressing one of these ordinances," he said. "They could hardly have asked for more."

I really don't know what to say! Well, lets see. The Federal Government fails to enforce the laws, so the state and local government steps up to the plate. Then some dumbass Judge shoots them down?

Good gawd almighty! With every day that passes, I lose more and more faith in our Federal Government and its Judicial system

There needs to be an uproar of voices to get this judge out of office!

As for the Mayor - I would vote for him any day of the week!

Wake up - Gang activity isn't just in your town!

Evidence of gang culture and gang activity in the military is increasing so much an FBI report calls it "a threat to law enforcement and national security." The signs are chilling: Marines in gang attire on Paris Island; paratroopers flashing gang hand signs at a nightclub near Ft. Bragg; infantrymen showing-off gang tattoos at Ft. Hood.

Gang activity clues are appearing in Iraq and Afghanistan, too. Gang graffiti is sprayed on blast walls – even on Humvees. Kilroy – the doodle made famous by U.S. soldiers in World War II – is here, but so is the star emblem of the Gangster Disciples.

Military regulations disqualify members of hate groups from enlisting, but there is no specific ban on members of street gangs.

The laws are meant for everyone

I am sure you can tell from my postings how I feel about the illegals. I found this comment on a blog that was quite heated - comments between hispanics and whites.

All you Mexicans need to know your role in society. Now consuela go clean my room!

That comment made my blood boil. This is NOT how I feel about illegals or hispanics. And I am sure the illegals think that this is the attitude of all people who feel that they need to go back home and enter this country legally. That is so NOT the way we all feel.

My feeling is simple - everyone should obey all the laws of the land. And the Land should enforce all the laws in place.

Here in Southern California we have faced many situations that other parts of the country know nothing about.

In March of 2006, the hispanics held a "Day Without Illegals" protest. In addition to kids ditching school (they did show up, but at a designated time, they walked off campus), they took their protest walk to the freeways. There was no action taken against any of the people that did this.

But the most appalling of all was what took place at Montebello High School. I will let the photos speak for themselves.

Friggin Unbelievable!!

PRISONER ASKS JUDGE TO TRIM HIS SENTENCE
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - A Temecula man who pretended to be a police officer in order to rob a man outside a bar in Bloomington has written a letter from prison asking a judge to reduce his sentence.

Jesse Adrian Wagner claims he is entitled to have his sentence of more than nine years in prison nearly cut in half based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that restricted judges' ability to hand down maximum terms.

Wagner robbed the man in 2003 shortly after he left the El Noa Noa bar.

Prosecutors said Wagner, who worked as a bail agent, dressed in a blue uniform with patches on it when he robbed the man of $200.

He also wore a bulletproof vest and drove a car outfitted with spotlights as well as a wire cage in the back seat.

The man cooperated with Wagner because he believed Wagner was a police officer.

Jurors convicted Wagner of charges including robbery, false imprisonment and impersonating an officer.

Judge Michael Libutti sentenced him to the maximum term of five years in prison for the robbery and then stacked on additional years for the remaining counts.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that judges in California could not sentence a defendant to a maximum term unless a jury first concluded that the crime involved aggravating factors.

In this case, Wagner claims that jurors did not find aggravating factors, so Libutti should have sentenced him to no more than three years for the robbery and then ordered the sentences for the remaining counts to be served concurrently rather than consecutively.

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Youngberg said her office would oppose the request.

She said Wagner, who is serving his time in Tehachapi State Prison, has prior convictions that qualify as proven aggravating factors, and she believed there is little chance a judge will reduce the sentence.

Nonetheless, she said Wagner is within his rights in making the request.

What good is it to have judges who hand down judgements only to have higher court judges over rule them? I am fully aware that in some cases you get a nut case of a judge that really does something stupid, but in this case, I do not see anything nutty about the sentence the judge handed down.

Sometimes you just gotta scratch your head and say "what the hell?".

There has got to be a point in time that this absurdity ends. There is absolutely nothing wrong with stiff sentences for crimes. I would make the criminals and criminals to be think again before committing a crime.

Why shouldn't that point in time be now?