Baltimore: The Next Ferguson? (1 Viewer)

[TobiasFunke]

Oh good. We've reached the part of the thread where a bunch of people just swing by to take a #### on yet another proud American city they know next to nothing about without bothering to tell us about the glistening utopia they call home.

No, we'Ve reached the part of the thread where we use facts to dispel the notion that there is no uptick in Baltimore violence and that any surge in violence is a media fabrication.

Go grab a coffee and report back later when you're less ornery.

That comment wasn't really aimed at you, but since my post I see that you've now posted the same story twice in four minutes. You sure you're not gloating about dead bodies? Because it sure reads like gloating about dead bodies. After all, if you really were interested in using facts to dispel a notion that there is no uptick/surge in violence and that any surge is a media creation, wouldn't you need to compare the data from before the event that triggered the uptick/surge to allow for comparison, right? Sweet J asked about the last 5 years- is this the deadliest long weekend in the last 5 years? The deadliest month? If so, by how much? Have there been upticks elsewhere that might suggest factors unrelated to the city's current situation?

Anyway, like I said the comment wasn't really aimed at your posts. I mean take a look at what Hang 10 is cranking out this morning. Taking completely uninformed swipes at the city and its people and now crapping on a poster for his past struggles with addiction to boot.

 

[Apple Jack]

I wouldn't call it "struggles". I rather enjoyed it and stopped when friends and family said it was time to, so he's not really doing what he thinks he's doing. Which it appears is his default position.

 

[Apple Jack]

Charles Village, Hampden, Federal Hill, Fell's Point, Guilford...all gorgeous, thriving neighborhoods. For starters. Obviously our little buddy here hasn't been around enough to understand that cities are kinda big and that what you see on the news is often just concerning one small area of it. It's a mistake a child makes, so maybe he's due some latitude.

 

[tom22406]

Murder rate is up 60% in New York City so far this year compared to last year.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/murders-nyc-60-time-year-article-1.2235101

 

[avoiding injuries]

Protesters are blocking major arteries into the city this morning. This one guy has 395 blocked. https://twitter.com/jamalhbryant/status/603174659497041920

There's also a group blocking 295 coming into the city.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Murder rate is up 60% in New York City so far this year compared to last year.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/murders-nyc-60-time-year-article-1.2235101

Like Baltimore a disproportionate number of the murdered in NYC are likely young, black men. Certain media outlets and certain politicians have been banging the drum that the police indiscriminately kill black men and there's a police war against black men; but the reality is that the police are the greatest protectors of black men in America and have been for some time. When the police in New York or Baltimore pull back for safety reasons we see young, black men getting killed by other young, black men at a higher rate.

 

[dutch]

http://www.wbal.com/article/115243/40/protest-blocks-morning-traffic-on-i-95

Protest Blocks Morning Traffic On I-95
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
WBAL NewsRadio 1090

Protesters have blocked traffic coming into Baltimore on the I-95 to 395 ramp.

Tweets from Rev. Jamal Bryant show the protest is related to a new juvenile jail to be built in the city. The state approved the plans to build the $30 million, 60-bed jail on May 13th, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Protesters believe the money should be spent on education instead of the facility.

The Maryland Transportation Authority reopened all of the ramps at around 9:45 a.m. after protesters blocked them with their cars and began walking along MLK and Washington Blvd.

Baltimore city police tweeted that they are continuing to "facilitate everyone's first amendment rights to protest and be heard." They also asked protesters remain off of the roads.

 

[timschochet]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

 

[MattFancy]

Charles Village, Hampden, Federal Hill, Fell's Point, Guilford...all gorgeous, thriving neighborhoods. For starters. Obviously our little buddy here hasn't been around enough to understand that cities are kinda big and that what you see on the news is often just concerning one small area of it. It's a mistake a child makes, so maybe he's due some latitude.

Spent plenty of time in all those areas and I would even include Canton in that list as well. Yes, there are bad parts to Baltimore, but can't you say the same for every major city in America?

 

[TobiasFunke]

Murder rate is up 60% in New York City so far this year compared to last year.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/murders-nyc-60-time-year-article-1.2235101

Like Baltimore a disproportionate number of the murdered in NYC are likely young, black men. Certain media outlets and certain politicians have been banging the drum that the police indiscriminately kill black men and there's a police war against black men; but the reality is that the police are the greatest protectors of black men in America and have been for some time. When the police in New York or Baltimore pull back for safety reasons we see young, black men getting killed by other young, black men at a higher rate.

Of course the police are the greatest protectors of young black men. They're also the greatest protectors of middle aged Asian-American women, and of Polish-American children, and of elderly Eskimo transgenders. They're the police, that's their job. If the police decide to stop doing their jobs more people of all races would be victimized by crime. So what? That doesn't change the fact that law enforcement and the criminal justice system discriminate against black people in a variety of well documented ways.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

 

[timschochet]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

Sure because discrimination makes people angry. Young blacks killing other young blacks is not a source for outrage; it just makes most people sad and despairing.

 

[Gawain]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

Sure because discrimination makes people angry. Young blacks killing other young blacks is not a source for outrage; it just makes most people sad and despairing.

So, more people dying because cops aren't racially profiling is a positive outcome in your eyes?

 

[Apple Jack]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

Sure because discrimination makes people angry. Young blacks killing other young blacks is not a source for outrage; it just makes most people sad and despairing.

maybe not on whitey-heavy magic football message boards, but this is hammered on regularly in churches and community centers in cities everywhere. as it is the biggest problem in many communities, it is a regular subject for many community leaders.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

I can't speak to your city specifically, but if you think that in general there's complacency about violence in the community you're out of your mind. I hear and read it constantly.

That said, violence perpetrated by law enforcement is much much different than violence between citizens for lots of reasons. For one thing you'll never eliminate crime. You can reduce it through various efforts but that's all you can do. It's a part of life in America. But violence or mistreatment at the hands of the police is a much bigger deal because you have no recourse. It's a fundamental breakdown of the rules we all live under. Imagine getting mugged by a private citizen who takes $200 off you. You're pretty pissed I assume, but you'll get over it and you're probably also relieved that you're safe. Now imagine getting mugged by a cop ... and when you file a complaint the other cops circle the wagons and fight you tooth and nail. Much more frustrating when you have no recourse and when your counterpart is the person society has trusted to administer the law, yes?

In fact you could make a good argument that there's causation there- that the discriminatory behavior increases crime rates. But that's a whole 'nother tangent.

 

[tom22406]

Charles Village, Hampden, Federal Hill, Fell's Point, Guilford...all gorgeous, thriving neighborhoods. For starters. Obviously our little buddy here hasn't been around enough to understand that cities are kinda big and that what you see on the news is often just concerning one small area of it. It's a mistake a child makes, so maybe he's due some latitude.

Spent plenty of time in all those areas and I would even include Canton in that list as well. Yes, there are bad parts to Baltimore, but can't you say the same for every major city in America?

Without question the answer is yes.

Not even sure why that point was brought up.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

I can't argue with the bolded, but the bolded is not tantamount to a police war on black men.

And even if we accept that there is a police war where the police indiscriminately kill black men and that the police protect black men from bodily harm or murder to a greater extent than any other group, which do we hear far more of in media and political circles?

Granted, I do not expect the flipside of the coin from the media or politicians on this issue.

 

[The_Man]

I think there have been 37 homicides in the last 30 days. That's a higher rate than there's ever been, even before O'Malley was voted in as Mayor to clean things up.

Meanwhile, as the worst spasm of fatal violence in perhaps the history of the City of Baltimore is ongoing, our idiot Mayor appears on TV from Preakness, wearing a ludicrous hat and talking about "we can all take a deep breath" now that things have gotten back to normal following the Freddie Gray case.

Well, they have gotten back to normal for her and her constituents - the rich, the powerful, and the downtown developers. Many out-of-town people might jump to conclusions about the Mayor's background because she is African-American, but the reality is that her mother is a physician, her father was the Appropriations Chair in the Maryland House of Delegates for decades, and she grew up in a very privileged world of wealth. She went to Oberlin, for crying out loud.

So now the City is in terrible straits, but nobody cares since the riots are over and rich people can again go to Preakness and the Orioles games unmolested. Why the violence? Have the police stopped policing? Don't ask the Mayor, as she's showing the same kind of leadership now as she did during the riots themselves - which is to say none whatsoever.

I'm as concerned right now about Baltimore as I have been in a long time, and it's not about any riots. It's about a total breakdown in public safety and what that could portend for a long, hot and violent summer.

The only upside is that things have gotten so bad so fast that the Mayor has now been forced to pay some attention. Still far from convinced she is up to the challenge.

 

[timschochet]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

Sure because discrimination makes people angry. Young blacks killing other young blacks is not a source for outrage; it just makes most people sad and despairing.

So, more people dying because cops aren't racially profiling is a positive outcome in your eyes?

I think there are ways to keep people from dying without having to resort to racial profiling. I reject the implication of your question.

 

[Apple Jack]

hot damn, i have the day off and i'm tempted to roll up the BW Pkwy and crush some crab cakes and geek beer at thames street oyster house in Fell's Point.

 

[timschochet]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

I can't argue with the bolded, but the bolded is not tantamount to a police war on black men.

And even if we accept that there is a police war where the police indiscriminately kill black men and that the police protect black men from bodily harm or murder to a greater extent than any other group, which do we hear far more of in media and political circles?

Granted, I do not expect the flipside of the coin from the media or politicians on this issue.

Obviously we hear more about the mistreatment, because saving people from harm is what the police are SUPPOSED to do. Yes, they should be congratulated for the good works they do, but that is their job.

 

[Hang 10]

hot damn, i have the day off and i'm tempted to roll up the BW Pkwy and crush some crab cakes and geek beer at thames street oyster house in Fell's Point.

if that keeps you from posting here.

 

[Apple Jack]

hot damn, i have the day off and i'm tempted to roll up the BW Pkwy and crush some crab cakes and geek beer at thames street oyster house in Fell's Point.

if that keeps you from posting here.

dont get too excited. still have expense reports and laundry to do.

where do you live, Hang 10?

 

[The Z Machine]

As a Baltimore resident, I can say that the mayor here is at the minimum, mildly incompetent and has been from the get go.

I voted for Catherine Pugh, who seems much more on the ball.

 

[Hang 10]

hot damn, i have the day off and i'm tempted to roll up the BW Pkwy and crush some crab cakes and geek beer at thames street oyster house in Fell's Point.

if that keeps you from posting here.

dont get too excited. still have expense reports and laundry to do.

where do you live, Hang 10?

Virginia

 

[Apple Jack]

Virginia is a big place. Has oceanfront while also extending to west of Detroit. We talking NoVa? Tidewater? Richmond? Rural? Danville? Bristol? Lots of VA is quite rednecky while some is as cosmopolitan as it gets.

 

[Hang 10]

Virginia is a big place. Has lots oceanfront while also extending to west of Detroit. We talking NoVa? Tidewater? Richmond? Rural? Danville? Bristol? Lots of VA is quite rednecky while some is as cosmopolitan as it gets.

It's a little creepy that you're so concerned but Tidewater. Virginia Beach more specifically. You wanna hang out?

 

[TheIronSheik]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

They are both a real problem, but there seems to be selective outrage, either coming out of the city or being reported by the media.

I can't speak to your city specifically, but if you think that in general there's complacency about violence in the community you're out of your mind. I hear and read it constantly.

That said, violence perpetrated by law enforcement is much much different than violence between citizens for lots of reasons. For one thing you'll never eliminate crime. You can reduce it through various efforts but that's all you can do. It's a part of life in America. But violence or mistreatment at the hands of the police is a much bigger deal because you have no recourse. It's a fundamental breakdown of the rules we all live under. Imagine getting mugged by a private citizen who takes $200 off you. You're pretty pissed I assume, but you'll get over it and you're probably also relieved that you're safe. Now imagine getting mugged by a cop ... and when you file a complaint the other cops circle the wagons and fight you tooth and nail. Much more frustrating when you have no recourse and when your counterpart is the person society has trusted to administer the law, yes?

In fact you could make a good argument that there's causation there- that the discriminatory behavior increases crime rates. But that's a whole 'nother tangent.

You are delusional.

 

[Apple Jack]

Virginia is a big place. Has lots oceanfront while also extending to west of Detroit. We talking NoVa? Tidewater? Richmond? Rural? Danville? Bristol? Lots of VA is quite rednecky while some is as cosmopolitan as it gets.

It's a little creepy that you're so concerned but Tidewater. Virginia Beach more specifically. You wanna hang out?

no, but seems somewhat relevant considering how you are in such a hurry to judge other places you clearly know little about. i drive through tidewater to visit my parents on the outer banks. even dated a girl in portsmouth so spent some time in norfolk. place is a dump. baltimore is an infinitely better place.

 

[Hang 10]

 

[jonessed]

You should have seen that coming a mile away.

 

[Apple Jack]

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Gary Coal Man, why can't it be both?

I believe that police mistreat and sometimes kill young black men, and that's a real problem, and that young black men kill other young black men, and THAT'S a real problem. I think that there are in many instances good police trying to solve these problems, and there are lots of good young black men trying to solve these problems.

I can't argue with the bolded, but the bolded is not tantamount to a police war on black men.

And even if we accept that there is a police war where the police indiscriminately kill black men and that the police protect black men from bodily harm or murder to a greater extent than any other group, which do we hear far more of in media and political circles?

Granted, I do not expect the flipside of the coin from the media or politicians on this issue.

Obviously we hear more about the mistreatment, because saving people from harm is what the police are SUPPOSED to do. Yes, they should be congratulated for the good works they do, but that is their job.

Yes, that's certainly part of the reason why the media emphasizes police attacking black people more than the media emphasizes police protecting black people, but it's not the only reason. Other factors include:

1) The media, in general and regardless of topic, emphasize violence and law breaking. "If it bleeds, it leads."

2) The police protecting rather than attacking the black populace goes against the media narrative of racist cops. The media does not wish to dilute that message.

3) Emphasizing the extent to wish the police reduce crime in black areas is, in effect, also emphasizing the extent of crime in black areas. The media often wish to downplay that situation.

Your argument above (which does have merit) could also be applied to the media's coverage of the Ferguson and Baltimore protestors. Many people took issue with that coverage because they believed the media were overemphasizing the minority of rioters who were acting criminally and violently rather than the majority of protestors who were acting peacefully within the bounds of the law. Well, yeah. Acting peacefully within the bounds of the law is how you're supposed to act so, of course, the media is going to emphasize the rule breakers rather than the rule followers. (See also Point 1 above.)

 

[timschochet]

You raise good points Gary Coal Man.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

 

[Dr Oadi]

Virginia is a big place. Has lots oceanfront while also extending to west of Detroit. We talking NoVa? Tidewater? Richmond? Rural? Danville? Bristol? Lots of VA is quite rednecky while some is as cosmopolitan as it gets.

It's a little creepy that you're so concerned but Tidewater. Virginia Beach more specifically. You wanna hang out?

no, but seems somewhat relevant considering how you are in such a hurry to judge other places you clearly know little about. i drive through tidewater to visit my parents on the outer banks. even dated a girl in portsmouth so spent some time in norfolk. place is a dump. baltimore is an infinitely better place.

Nor#### is a dump. Kind of like Baltimore.

 

[Dr Oadi]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Basically she's cute but has an attitude.

 

[Jack White]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

So hot . . .

 

[D-Day]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Great attorney. She left money on the table by not asking for punitive damages.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Great attorney. She left money on the table by not asking for punitive damages.

I didn't watch the video, but most of those TV Court shows are small claims cases and most small claims courts do not award damages. Your post still is closer to accurate than the posts fawning over Mosby's alleged hotness, though.

 

[Jack White]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Great attorney. She left money on the table by not asking for punitive damages.

I didn't watch the video, but most of those TV Court shows are small claims cases and most small claims courts do not award damages. Your post still is closer to accurate than the posts fawning over Mosby's alleged hotness, though.

If you didn't watch the video, how can you attest to her hotness at age 20?

 

[avoiding injuries]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Great attorney. She left money on the table by not asking for punitive damages.

I didn't watch the video, but most of those TV Court shows are small claims cases and most small claims courts do not award damages. Your post still is closer to accurate than the posts fawning over Mosby's alleged hotness, though.

Judy says in the video that she would have awarded damages if she (Marilyn) had asked for them.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Great attorney. She left money on the table by not asking for punitive damages.

I didn't watch the video, but most of those TV Court shows are small claims cases and most small claims courts do not award damages. Your post still is closer to accurate than the posts fawning over Mosby's alleged hotness, though.

If you didn't watch the video, how can you attest to her hotness at age 20?

Because the still frame picture on the unplayed video is a close-up of her face. To me, she's certainly attractive, but I reserve "hot" for a higher level. To each their own, however.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Marilyn Mosby has been searching for justice for a long time. No wonder she comes across as a tad angry. Here she is as a college student on Judge Judy.

http://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/features/around-the-web/stories/marilyn-mosby-appearance-on-judge-judy-wbff.shtml?wap=0#.VWY2T3m9LCR

Great attorney. She left money on the table by not asking for punitive damages.

I didn't watch the video, but most of those TV Court shows are small claims cases and most small claims courts do not award damages. Your post still is closer to accurate than the posts fawning over Mosby's alleged hotness, though.

Judy says in the video that she would have awarded damages if she (Marilyn) had asked for them.

Interesting. She was only twenty then. Kind of hard to fault her for not considering to ask for punitive damages. I probably didn't even know what punitive damages were at that age.

 

[General Tso]

Motion just filed for change of venue and having Mosby being recused. Video out of her speaking at church two days before she came down with the indictments. Sounds very angry again lol. Talks about racism and objects to the rioters being called thugs. As for the cops, "We will pursue justice by any and all means necessary". Sounds like an activist rather than a State's Attorney.

So long Marilyn. There's a job in the Claims Department at my insurance company if you're interested.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Motion just filed for change of venue and having Mosby being recused. Video out of her speaking at church two days before she came down with the indictments. Sounds very angry again lol. Talks about racism and objects to the rioters being called thugs. As for the cops, "We will pursue justice by any and all means necessary". Sounds like an activist rather than a State's Attorney.

So long Marilyn. There's a job in the Claims Department at my insurance company if you're interested.

Maybe she can wait tables at the sports bar that Ray opened up in her old 3br apartment.

 

[squistion]

Motion just filed for change of venue and having Mosby being recused. Video out of her speaking at church two days before she came down with the indictments. Sounds very angry again lol. Talks about racism and objects to the rioters being called thugs. As for the cops, "We will pursue justice by any and all means necessary". Sounds like an activist rather than a State's Attorney.

If some thugs had shot a police officer and Mosby said "We will pursue justice by any and all means necessary" you would be applauding her and the last thing we would have heard from you was that she was sounding "like an activist rather than a State's Attorney."

 

[Apple Jack]

He's laughing because she's black and looks angry. Get it?

Thought pursuing justice was more the job of a state's attorney than that of an activist.

 

[General Tso]

Geraldo Rivera just dropped the mic on Hannity, talking about the real civil rights issue of our time. Not cops killing black men, but black on black violence and the deplorable situation in inner cities.

"It is easy politically for someone to say, "Look at us, woe is us, we are being victimized," in this case by officers, usually white officers. That's easy, because it fits a historic narrative. What is much more difficult to deal with is the reality, and what is the reality? I think the last speaker hit on the social issues that are correct. But what he leaves out is, now these cities are run by a network, a hidden network of gangs - gangs that are doing the thriving business of drug deals. There murders are largely turf wars over drug deals.

Urban America is committing a kind of suicide. This should be the President's priority. I'm not talking rhetorically here. I am talking reality. In Chicago, in Trenton, in Newark, in New Orleans, in Detroit, in Baltimore. Come on! Stop now, with the talking around what the real issue is. There is a crisis in urban America, and the Presdent has to deal with it. I think it's more of a threat than ISIS."

Where is a President Obama on this issue? This is why I voted for the guy - because I thought he was ideally equipped to deal with these issues. Instead they have gotten worse, much worse, under his watch. What a profound disappointment he has been.

 

[General Tso]

He's laughing because she's black and looks angry. Get it?

Thought pursuing justice was more the job of a state's attorney than that of an activist.

The job of a State's Attorney is to be fair and unbiased and appear as such in all her dealings with the public. There's no place for highly charged, angry rhetoric like that, particularly when it is tinged with racial overtones. "By any means necessary". "I heard your cries of 'No justice no peace'". "Our time in now!" Just dumb, self-consumed, and worst of all, not good for her case. Her actions are symbolic about a lot of the things people are frustrated seeing in Baltimore - selfishness, lack of discipline and self control, inappropriate focus on race... Really sad to watch actually.