A hate crime in Haymarket???

MoonHowler

The good folks of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church were busy packing 100 backpacks for poor children so they would have school supplies in September, right before the fire  destroyed their church last August.  The next day, after they rescued 2 beloved Bibles, they went right back to packing those backpacks for poor children.  They weren’t letting fire get in the way of their mission.   Actually, their mission and generosity don’t surprise me one little bit.

I have been blessed to know at least one member of this congregation and I can say unequivocally that this lady is one of the finest Christian women  I have ever known, in a quiet,  unassuming way.   She has no idea I think this of her and if she read this blog she wouldn’t know me behind my moniker or have any idea I was speaking of her.  That’s just how she is.

But I digress….

November 29, Maurice Thomson Michaely of Haymarket was charged with setting the fire that destroyed the entire building.  Why would anyone burn down a church?  Why would a white man burn down a black church?  It is too early to know if Michaely  will be charged with a hate crime but one has to ask those questions.  At any rate, the incident sickens me.  The question continues to be why?  What sick individual would do something like this?    Shame on anyone who thinks of doing something like this.

Further reading:  Haymarket man charged in church fire

Will pot go legal this election?

MoonHowler

Huffingtonpost.com:

NEW YORK — Voters in three states will decide next month whether to legalize the sale and use of marijuana. If a ballot measure in one of those states succeeds, as supporters predict, it may create a rare truce in the war on drugs — and trigger a showdown with the federal government.

State-level legalization would climax decades of struggle by reformers to convince voters that marijuana presents less of a threat to public safety than legal drugs, including alcohol. It would also show that pro-pot activists have learned from previous losses, like California’s Proposition 19.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that at least one of them will pass,” said Dan Riffle, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project.

His confidence appears justified. A September poll put support in Washington state at 57 percent. A Colorado poll out Monday from The Denver Post showed 48 percent in favor, versus 43 percent opposed. Support in Oregon was lagging.

Proponents have picked their battles. Legalization is only on the ballot in libertarian-leaning western states. Still-hostile state legislatures have been bypassed with ballot initiatives. And the presidential election will draw marijuana- friendly younger voters to polls.

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Norwegian killer of 77 gets 21 years–Americans languish in prison for decades

MoonHowler

From the WashingtonPost.com:

Anders Behring Breivik receives a sentence of up to 21 years for bomb and gun attacks that killed 77 people last year and terrorized a nation. The sentence is the maximum allowed under Norwegian law and can be extended.

Twenty-one years for mowing down 77 people in cold blood seems like a very small amount of time to to serve in prison.  If he had done that same crime anywhere in the United States, his butt would never see the light of day.  (And rightly so, in my opinion.)  Americans are hard-nosed about their crime and punishment.

Constrast the Norwegian situation to a local Virginia situation.  Michael Wayne Hash of Culpeper has been set free after spending 12 years in prison for allegedly murdering a 74 year old organist.  The lady was shot in the head 4 times.  Hash was convicted and given life in prison at age 19.

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Shooter at Sikh Temple known to hate group watchers

MoonHowler

Washigntonpost.com:

OAK CREEK, Wis. — The gunman who killed worshipers at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin on Sunday had become deeply embedded in the white-supremacist music scene and was well known to anti-hate watchdog groups, one of which said it had been tracking the 40-year-old for more than a decade.

In 2000, Wade Michael Page, an Army veteran, sold everything he owned aside from his motorcycle and journeyed from Colorado, eventually settling in rural North Carolina. He joined prominent “white power” rock bands. And over time, he became frustrated with what he viewed as “people’s apathetic ways” and the lack of “strict discipline in our sick society,” according to an interview he conducted with his record label.

Who are the hate-group watchers?  Anti-Defense League (ADL), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) all are hate group watchers and you do not want to get on their list.    These hate group watchers do watch and they continually alert law enforcement about those who seem to target others with literature or speech.

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Rep. Louie Gohmert blames movie theater carnage on attacks on Judeo Christian beliefs

MoonHowler

Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON — Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said Friday that the shootings that took place in an Aurora, Colo. movie theater hours earlier were a result of “ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs” and questioned why nobody else in the theater had a gun to take down the shooter.

During a radio interview on The Heritage Foundation’s “Istook Live!” show, Gohmert was asked why he believes such senseless acts of violence take place. Gohmert responded by talking about the weakening of Christian values in the country.

“You know what really gets me, as a Christian, is to see the ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and then some senseless crazy act of terror like this takes place,” Gohmert said.

“Some of us happen to believe that when our founders talked about guarding our virtue and freedom, that that was important,” he said. “Whether it’s John Adams saying our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people … Ben Franklin, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom, as nations become corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters … We have been at war with the very pillars, the very foundation of this country.”

Ernest Istook, the host of the show and a former Oklahoma congressman, jumped in to clarify that nobody knows the motivation of the alleged Aurora gunman. Gohmert said that may be true, but suggested the shootings were still “a terrorist act” that could have been avoided if the country placed a higher value on God.

Where is Pat Robertson when we need him?   Someone asked for the blame game to start.  Well, here it is.   I offer your Louie Gohmert.  Gohmert also wondered aloud why no one took down this gunman.  Does he really think a shoot out would have been the answer?

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The Invisible War: Opens Friday, June 22

MoonHowler

Last year the Defense Department confirmed that there were more than 19,000 incidences of sexual assault in the U.S. military.  The assaults were on both men and women  in equal numbers, according to the film makers.  The men were less likely to report and much less inclined to be interviewed.

Leon Panetta has instituted new rules which is a place to start.  Part of the problem has been that victims reported within the chain of command.  Chain of command has led to more and more people simply not reporting crimes against them because of the reaction of some of the superior officers.  Some trrops have even lost rank, suffered ridicule, or even more degrading responses.

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What is the Tea Party Fund?

MoonHowler

What is the Tea Party Fund?  According to their website:

The Tea Party Fund is a SUPER PAC working to develop a grassroots army to fight the left in 2012. Our core goals include the defeat of Barack Obama and success in 7 out of 10 targeted Senate seats.

Why do we care?   This fellow had a profile spot on the website. 

From insidenova.com:

The FBI took down an alleged white supremacist in the parking lot of the Bull Run Plaza shopping center Tuesday after they say he paid an undercover agent to illegally modify his AK-47 assault rifle.

Douglas Howard Story, 48, of Manassas is charged with making a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act and is accused of making threats online to the president and others, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Peter Carr said.

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Let’s talk about George Zimmerman

MoonHowler

We haven’t brought up George Zimmerman since his arrest.  Why?  Let’s let the legal system do its thing.  Is he guilty?  I have no idea.  That is something for a judge and a jury to decide.  They are the ones who will have the evidence. 

There are several issues, however.  The main issue is that nothing was being done.  I think most people want equal justice for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation, national origin.  We had a couple with a dead son and no answers.  Not only was their son dead but law enforcement had held the body for 3 days without contacting the parents.  The parents wanted answers.

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Trayvon Martin’s killer graduated from Osbourn High School

MoonHowler

This story is just tragic. An unarmed kid with a cell phone and a bag of candy shouldn’t have to die. It sure sounds like the “Stand your Ground” law is being stretched to the limit. This case is why I simply don’t think everyone has a right to have a firearm. How totally irresponsible.

How will the community react to this news?  I couldn’t believe Zimmerman was from our area.  Frankly, I would be worried too if this thug were following me, especially if I had an inkling he was armed.

Read more at INsidenova.com.

VA Tech: 2 families awarded $4 million each

MoonHowler

Two families have each been awarded $4 million dollars for the wrongful deaths of their children during the VA Tech massacre on April 16, 2007.  The jury ruled that administration and the campus police did not send out an early enough warning of two shootings on campus. The school argued that they thought the shootingdeaths were isolated incidents.

The school has already filed an appeal. The other victims’s families settled out of court.

I am simply not sure how I feel about this jury award.  I just don’t know.  31 more people were killed within the next 3,5 hours after the first shooting.  Had students been warned and gone in to lock down, could lives have been saved?

Read more at the Richmond Times Dispatch.

School violence: The Killing Fields?

MoonHowler

I would like to talk about something that makes ME sick.   Sick and numb.  Today a third student has died as a result of that fatal shooting at Chardon High School outside of Cleveland.  Every day there is violence in schools.  Earlier in the week, an 11 year old girl died in California  as a result of fighting with another girl, over a boy.  There are probably others student deaths that weren’t sensational enough to make the news.   Are our schools becoming killing fields? 

What can be done to stop this type of senseless violence?  The 11 year old girl was a participant.  We can assume willing.  However, the 4 students who were shot yesterday were simply sitting in the cafeteria eating breakfast.  How did the shooter get access to the cafeteria?  He wasn’t even a student in that school any more.  He went to alternative school.  We can only assume that he walked right in with the rest of the students at 7:30 am.

Is there a way to make our schools safer?  From all accounts this school, like Columbine a decade ago, wasn’t in a heavy crime area.  It was just an ordinary school, like our kids go to.  It wasn’t inner city. 

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Democratic cat murdered in Arkansas

MoonHowler

 

Don’t mess with non-Democrats in Arkansas.  The following story is hitting the internet all over the place.  A fairly non-political friend first sent it to me.  I didn’t use it because I felt her source was slanted.  Then I started seeing it everywhere.  So here it goes:

(Reuters) – A cat belonging to an Arkansas Democratic campaign manager was found dead on Sunday night with the word “Liberal” spray-painted across its side, the campaign manager said.

The cat was a pet of Jake Burris, who manages Democrat Ken Aden’s bid for Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District. Aden is running against incumbent Republican Representative Steve Womack.

Burris was returning to his Russellville, Arkansas home with his four children when he found the cat on his doorstep, the Aden campaign said in a press release on Monday.

The mixed-breed Siamese cat had one side of its head bashed in to “the point the cat’s eyeball was barely hanging from its socket,” the release said.

Aden told Reuters that the event was “horrible, to say the least.”

“Thankfully, there are not that many people who want to do something like this,” Aden said. “The majority of people in this district are hard-working folks, but you get the occasional crazy individual out there.”

 

Someone knew what they were doing.  How incredibly cruel.  Most people regardless of how much they disagreed with your politics wouldn’t do anything this low and hideous.  Hopefully, the cat murderer will brag and will be apprehended.  What punishment would even be appropriate for this sick individual(s)?

Warning:  Dead Cat Picture below the fold.

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Another VA Tech Shooting

MoonHowler

There has been another VA Tech shooting today.  2 have been killed.  The news reports that VA Tech was very proactive and that students were given information immediately.  The shooter is still at large.  It is unknown if he is pinned down or roaming. 

Stay tuned.

ATF, State Police, FBI are all involved.  The VA State Police has taken over the investigation. 

The students are complaining that it is taking too long to apprehend the shooter. They are in lock down.   Come on kids.  Be  glad it wasn’t you shot.  They do not know the identification of the shooter.  No classes are in session.  Today is what is known as reading day.  Tomorrow begins final exams. 

My nephew is at Tech.  I am not worried.  Too ornery.  His father wanted to ship him back at Thanksgiving. 

VT alert sytsems are amazing now.  All VT computers give an alert, sirens sound, text messaging, etc.

Members of Congress-not such a safe job any more

MoonHowler

Two more congressmen have had violent threats made against them.  Two weeks ago Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill was specifically named in an Internet threat that  called for the assassination of a number of public officials.  The threat offered a $75,000 reward and, according to ABC News stated:

“I will pay $75,000 for ASSASSINATING Illinois Congresswoman (sic) Bobby Schilling and any US Congressman, US Senator and FBI, CIA and NSA DIRECTORS and their FAMILY MEMBERS regardless of their age.”

Yesterday,  Glendon Swift of Tennessee left two voice messages on the phone at Rep. Eric Cantor’s  Glen  Allen, VA office.  The threats contained yelling, screaming and cursing in addition to threatening to rape Cantor’s daughter and kill his wife.  Capital police were contacted and Swift is now sitting out his temper tantrum in jail.  

Swift was charged by criminal complaint of threatening to assault or murder a member of the immediate family of a United States official, according to the FBI. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Swift made his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Knoxville, Tenn., earlier this afternoon.   

Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot along with others in an execution style slaying last January by a mentally unstable individual.  Rep. Giffords survived but others did not, including her aide and a federal judge. 

What is wrong with people?  Why have members of Congress become the new targets?   I know their approval rating is low but I don’t think anyone advocates doing bodily harm to any one of them.  Are those making threats just mentally unbalanced? 

While we grouse and grumble about their pay and their perks, we may end up having to provide security for all of them.  Threats like these cannot be ignored.  Perhaps we are fortunate that threats were made.  Gabby Giffords got none other than a bullet in the brain.  

The Capitol Police  and FBI are to be commended for bringing Swift in to custody this quickly.   A strong message needs to be sent that the American people will not tolerate this kind of behavior and violence directed towards elected or public employees.   Threats will not be tolerated. 

Carlos Martinelly Montano found guilty of felony murder

MoonHowler

I will always be uncomfortable with a murder verdict.  Murder is intentionally killing someone.  Are prosecutors in Virginia ready to charge all drunk drivers who kill someone with murder or was this special charge reserved for Carlos only?  Manslaughter yes, murder no. 

This case is about drunk driving and about being an habitual offender.  It isn’t about illegal immigration.  It was political theater being played out on a stage contrary to the explicit wishes of the Benedictine nuns.  It took tragedy and turned it into political carnage as Corey Stewart appeared again and again on both national and local TV, trumpeting the evils of illegal immigration.  He even had a Rule of Law campaign soliciting money.  The entire affair was unseemly. 

I hope  Stewart is smug and  pleased with himself.  He is who continually waved the bloody shirt and demanded Martinelly’s head on a platter, again, in defiance of the wishes of the Bristow order of nuns whose sisters were victims of this terrible accident. 

Where does this leave us when the next drunk driver isn’t an immigrant? 

Where will this verdict lead us next time?  Beware of unintended consequences.  I expect we have not heard the last of this unusually charged case.