Stupidest Criminals of the Year

Hey, let's go a robbery spree targeting...... doughnut shops?   Yeah.

Two men arrested at a Dunkin' Donuts they allegedly intended to rob have been charged in a string of holdups at gas stations and doughnut shops across Long Island over the past two weeks, officials say.

Good Lord, have they never actually heard of the cop+doughnut thing? Don't they know cops are almost always within surveillance range of a doughnut shop?  Yes, it's early in the year but these goofballs have to be pretty high on the list.

Comey Interview

60 Minutes interviewed the Director of the FBI tonight, James Comey.   For those who've forgotten or never knew, Comey was Deputy Attorney General under Ashcroft in the Bush 43 administration and got semi-famous in the "Ashcroft Hospital Drama".

Perhaps the biggest bombshell of the interview was his mention of Khorasan, aka al-Nusra, aka Core Al Qaeda, suggesting an attack might be coming.   Which means the US didn't bomb them away a few weeks ago.  What he didn't say was the precise method of attack, probably through the air and possibly involving toothpaste if other reporting can be believed.  It's funny watching the administration scaring folks in this area while at the same time suggesting the threat from Ebola-infected fliers is zero. 

Anyway, the funniest moment was when he was discussing domestic "lone wolf" jihadists.  Comey said "lone wolf" was too good a description for them, preferring "lone rat".  Nice--especially to see the look on Scott Pelley's face.

Brown and the Media

So an American journalist gets beheaded by Islamic nutcakes on You ube and a day later the administration unveils details of a top secret raid that failed to rescue him?  And their excuse is that their hands were tied because the media already had the story?  Which was followed by more detailed information provided to reporters?   All as the Commander-in-Chief provided a backdrop of high fives and frivolity on the golf course?

Gee, who stole their copy of "President for Dummies"?  Surely they can't desire such optics. God help us if they do.  

And who leaked this to the media?  How soon will the leak investigation begin, because after all, everyone else in DC has been investigated/jailed for leaking.  Yes that was sarcasm.  Oh right, Eric Holder is a black man or something. 

Speaking of murdering bastards, Greg Gutfeld on Fox News broke a story tonight about an American who killed four innocent people in the name of Allah, right here in the United States.  On both coasts.  One was gay.  Another was a white teenager.  Yes, that's a similar body count to the Boston bombers.   Yet nothing in the big media.  We did learn that Obama had a hip party during his vacation at Martha's Vineyard where he danced and a great time was had by all.

And we've endured saturation coverage about the death of a young black man named Michael Brown who was killed by a cop in Missouri, yet another black man named Mohammed Brown who brags of committing jihad in America was a non-story.  This despite the fact he was rounded up in Seattle in 2004 for suspicion of supporting terrorism, to which he pled to a conspiracy charge and was released on time served.  Back in the day when people criticized Bush for arbitrarily rounding up people suspected of terrorism. 

Words simply fail.

LAX shooting follow-up

The murdered TSA agent has been identified, a Mr. Gerardo Hernandez aged 39. What a terrible waste. This man was not evil, he was just doing his job and supporting his family.

As to the TSA agents not being armed at the checkpoints, of course not.  Putting guns in holsters on people doing pat-downs and frisks would not be a very good idea.   Another report this morning says they are trained to 'save themselves' when gunfire rings out.   Another duh.  What could an unarmed TSA agent do to stop someone with a gun or bomb?   That's why they have law enforcement.

Another story details the decision of LAX officials to remove armed police from checkpoints and put them on roving patrols, a move made just recently.  That begs the question as to whether the suspect had been to the airport during the weeks prior for surveillance purposes.  Unless somehow this information had made it into the press beforehand.

As to the confusion of witnesses, there are possible explanations.  Some reported the shooter as wearing camo pants or clothes.  That appears to be correct based on the bloody clothes seen lying on the floor of the airport where he was shot.  Others said he had blond hair, which appears to be erroneous since the ambulance picture seems to show his natural dark hair.  At the same time others claimed he wore all blue or something similar to a TSA official's uniform, both of which could explain why initial reports said he was an off-duty officer.  People may have been seeing an agent with a gun drawn moving to confront the shooter.

As to the note discussing TSA and 'pigs' and 'pissed off patriots', this information has been leaked to the media despite it being evidence in a criminal case against a suspect, who at last report is still alive.  Unless the suspect dies in hospital it's unlikely the full note will be released, unlike what happened with the 'manifesto' written by the guy who flew a light aircraft into the IRS building in Austin, TX a few years ago.  So the leaker is only leaking what authorities want to leak right now.  

Finally, this picture in the Daily Mail needs an explanation.  Who is this person and why was he in handcuffs?

The most reasonable speculation is because he was in a restricted area during the melee.  But according to live feeds this event occurred after the shooter himself was 'down'.   Also, some witnesses claimed the shooter was wearing dark or blue clothes that appeared bulky, which appears to the case with this person.  None of which means there is a conspiracy afoot, only that witnesses are sometimes dismissed for seeing things that weren't there, when in fact sometimes their reports are accurate but they didn't see what they thought they saw.  This information can then be relayed instantaneously by security officials in the 'fog of war' and result in innocent people being scooped up or detained.

ENTER THE SPLC  11/2/13

NBC News goes to the go-to source on right wing terrorism, Mark Potok's SPLC, and doesn't come away disappointed:

But a blog post by Mark Potok, an expert on U.S. hate groups with the Southern Poverty Law Center, added new details about what he described as a one-page “manifesto” that included references to the Federal Reserve and “fiat currency.”

Citing a knowledgeable source with ranking law enforcement contacts, Potok said Ciancia also had a note containing derogatory comments about former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

So who is this knowledgeable source? Obviously someone in a high position of government who would have access to the 'one page manifesto' (that hasn't been fully released to the general public) and would benefit by giving Potok a look-see so he could get the word out to NBC, et al.   

It's true the Patriot Movement includes some people who aren't really patriots, regardless of what nutballs like this guy say (who tried to defend these guys).  But when describing such things to the public it's beneficial for Potok and others to leave some fuzziness between the philosophies of fringe groups and people like Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Tea Party members in general.  So they will.  Ciancia appears the be the 'terrorist' they've been waiting for.   After all, the mid-terms are coming and Obama is having a spot of trouble with the website. 

Tragic, yes

A young man is dead, needlessly shot in the prime of life. That's tragic.

But what's occurring around the circumstances of his death is not much better. The case deserves a second look (not the only one) but while America waits the media at large, apparently in their zeal to elevate this into another national conversation on race, have used an unflattering picture of Mr. Zimmerman (mug shot) juxtaposed with a not too recent photo of Trayvon Martin for maximum effect.

Some have even popularized a new racial descriptor--a 'white Hispanic'. It's funny how people of Latin descent are called 'brown people' when it's convenient, such as when conservatives are discussing illegal immigration, but become whiter when involved in the shooting of a black person. Shameless.

Of course the carnival barkers have also arrived in Florida, fanning racial bias by projecting the case into an important national issue worthy of marches hither and yon without any supporting evidence of a national trend. So now we not only have a war on women, we've got a war on black people, as Reverend Jackson tells us they are 'under attack'. It's not clear exactly who is part of this attack plan or whether it includes black people who want the right to shoot at criminals using concealed carry firearms, but surely the media will explain everything soon, such as the death rate in the president's home town and what it means, or maybe stuff like this.

The post-racial President could help here by trying to cool the rhetoric, just as he tried to do in the major Hasan jihad shooting by telling America not to jump to conclusions. Instead he steps out of bounds and takes a question leaving a presser (a first?) and invests his own race into the issue, furthering the flame. He knows where that road goes because he knows from where it comes. But apparently it beats talking about other things.

Briefly on the West Memphis Three

Rarely do I agree with much of anything the Firedoglakers say (even ex FDLer's), and I haven't followed this case very closely since the initial resolution, but their post, despite the hyperbole, contains a seemingly obvious point:

Let’s be honest, no prosecutor in his right mind walks these three men out the front door of the courthouse if he truly believes they are guilty and there is even the slightest chance in hell he can make the charges stand up in a retrial. And no prosecutor lets them do it through Alford pleas. I do not care what kind of happy pablum they spew to the television cameras and press, it is really just that simple.

It really does have the smell of a CYA. From reading press reports it appears the state is saying they still believe they got the right culprits and therefore they see no need to look for the real killer(s), but they might lose a retrial on a technicality so the families and public will have to settle for 18 year sentences for one of the most gruesome murders in regional memory. In other words, they finally made it go away.

Then again, if the WM3 were really interested in clearing their names and knew the state was reluctant to go into a retrial for fear of losing, why not push them into a retrial before accepting a deal? Or just go ahead and insist the trial? That would have served to clear their names once and for all AND perhaps shone some light on the real killer(s) and the alleged corruption that took place back in 1993.

Descending into Madness

The more that comes out about Loughner the more it seems he was mentally unbalanced and not overly influenced by divisive political rhetoric.

The more that comes out from the mainstream media about Sarah Palin, the more it seems we have widespread mental illness in the press:

BOTTOM LINE: Sarah Palin, once again, has found a way to become part of the story. And she may well face further criticism for the timing and scope of her remarks.

What else but utter madness would compel such a flip-flop? They should be apologizing. The big media rode the Krugman, Olbermann, Dupnik express to hatertown and brought her into the story unnecessarily--the sheriff even treating her as an accessory to murder--then when she responds they accuse her of making it all about Sarah and playing the victim card? Insane.

If not craziness then it must be craziness like a fox. Or crazy after Fox. In other words, they baited her into coming out by tying her to s shooting spree, completely disregarding the human tragedy and all legitimate debate points. Right now some are hyperventilating over the term 'blood libel', which apparently the Jews had exclusive rights to (well, not all of them). Whatever it takes to punish their enemies.

Hey, it's not kosher (oops) to throw around unsubstantiated allegations, but perhaps the real finger of blame in ascribing Loughner's actions--assuming they come from anywhere outside his strange head--is that he lives in a society where such disingenuous hacks are not laughed out of town or ridden out on rails. Instead they are given important titles like anchor, journalist, reporter or sheriff.

BTW--Yes, the timing of her remarks was strategic, coming before Obama's address tonight. Not sure if she just wanted to get something out to preclude more damage (assuming Daley will let the O stray from the tele) or something else. The press obviously keyed on the blood libel phrase to divert from the rest of her remarks, which were excellent and to the point and condemned the hades out of -- them. But that's how team Alinsky rolls. I will say that team Palin should have considered that Giffords is Jewish and realized how that might be spun.

THE MEMORIAL SERVICE 1/12/11

I'll try to be magnanimous here--the president gave a good eulogy and stayed within partisan bounds. Memorials are strange sometimes as to reactions. And the best way to memorialize someone is to talk about their positives and attempt to project those forward. He did that. I'll not comment on the cheering section other than to say it was weird and probably part of the program. After all, this was about Obama as much as the victims. The newspapers even handicapped that beforehand. And if so, he scored a few goals with the crowd's help.

Otherwise, the Mexican Indian's "blessing" was bizarre but I guess that's an Arizona thing. I kind of like how the Indians believed in God (great spirit) without ever being told of one by the white man; and for some reason they never take any grief for believing in one.

Jan Brewer's speech was good, about the right length, but I thought I faintly heard some boos before she went on. Napolitano got raucous cheers for reading a passage of the Old Testament--that's even wilder than the Indian. And Holder said Jesus, also to applause.

But the 20 year old was the most impressive of all due to his humility, steadiness, and genuineness. Mr. Hernandez is quite a man.

TAKEAWAYS 1/13/11

What was the takeaway from this speech? Was it cherishing the memories of those slain and wishing for a better tomorrow along with finding cures to mental illness? Or was it improving the tone of partisan debate? If most people say the latter then Obama has successfully hoodwinked the masses and media.

If the speech was intended to promote better dialog, etc, then Obama should have self-confessed. Otherwise it was a stern lecture despite the emphatic "it's not" rejoinder made to sound like a rebuke. The only rebuking required was towards those who acted stupidly and jumped to conclusions, so if the press/masses come away with the civility lesson above a genuine concern for the victims of what looks to be a man with mental illness, then it was an epic fail.

Limbaugh was remarking about the warm fuzzies thrown around by Fox while typical liberals were actually chastising the 'rally' atmosphere. As usual he's onto something. Fox may well have been afraid to chastise the speech for fear THEY would be accused of souring the debate during a memorial. It's the same goal sheriff Dupnik was trying to promote--chill speech on the right. And just as the House is spinning up towards repeal. Boehner was smart to stay away--after all, no congressperson was being memorialized--she survived.

Nigeria Wants Cheney

And the left is about to have a field day..

If Nigeria has its way, former Vice President Dick Cheney will be next on Interpol's international "wanted" alert, for bribery charges related to his time as the CEO of Halliburton.

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency says it plans to file charges against Cheney in connection with $180 million in bribes a Halliburton subsidiary paid to Nigerian officials to help secure a $1.2 billion contract during his tenure as head of the company. "We are filing charges against Cheney," Femi Babafemi, the country's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chief, told Reuters today.

But not so fast, says this site:

Political implications of arresting a former vice president aside, Obama and company are presented with two choices.

First, it can ignore the warrant, thereby straining relations with resource-rich Nigeria, and also undercut its current leadership role in Interpol, which is currently headed by American Ronald Noble, who worked for the Treasury Department during Bill Clinton’s presidential tenure.

The second option: move forward and nab Cheney. This would only inflame the right wing, though, and not simply because of revered Cheney’s elevated status among the conservative set.

Imagine Obama pressing the arrest of Assange, current target of an Interpol Red Notice, while not directing Holder to arrest Darth heart patient. Or vice versa. All while the lame duck Dems bicker over tax increases and the stock market prepares to crash over the coming taxmageddon. Get the popcorn ready, folks..

Israeli Serial Killer Suspect

CNN on the Arab serial killer and Israeli citizen captured in Atlanta:

Fourteen of the 16 victims in Michigan were African-American, police said. Flint is a majority African-American community. In majority-white Leesburg, Virginia, two victims were black and one was Hispanic.

Leesburg Police Chief Joseph Price said he believed the suspect was targeting African-Americans.

"For our community ... when you look at our demographics and you look at the victims here, my belief is he selected the victims in Leesburg based on the color of their skin," Price said.

Quite the interesting twist. First the media ignored this story, then when the composite sketch made him look like a white anglo they ran with the racist serial killer angle. Now when he turns out to be an Arab CNN runs with "Israeli citizen". Nowhere in their story can the word 'Arab' be found.

Here are two screen shots of the story for posterity. The first is the lede and a photo/headline, the second is the end of the story with Firefox's Cntl-F function to look for the word 'Arab' in the entire story:




Anyone reading the story would likely consider the suspect an Israeli--and he is--but most consider Israelis as Jewish. ABC identified the man as an Arab in the first sentence of their story, but the WaPo and the NY Times did not mention it in their early reports.

And of course almost none of them are mentioning the possibility of this being jihad or terrorism despite the suspects ties to the Detroit and lower Michigan area and despite his looks and the Israeli passport (deflection of suspicion). Even if he turns out to be a sicko Coptic Christian or Druze (or even a Jew) the press has an obligation to report on the possible terrorism angle when such things occur. After all, isn't America fighting Muslim extremists all around the world? Aren't Muslim terrorists still our prime enemy, many of whom are Arab or connected to the Palestinian struggle?

Calderon, Assault Weapons, and West Memphis

No sooner had the Mexican president stood in front of Congress and blamed his country's recent drug violence on America's lifting of the assault weapons ban (and received a standing-o from some Congressmen for bashing the Arizona immigration law) a terrible event unfolded here in the mid-south, blamed on assault weapons:

A short time later and about a mile away, in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart, two deputies searching for the suspects came across a white minivan and were shot and wounded as they approached the vehicle, Shelton said.

"The suspects were using an assault rifle," he said.

How utterly horrible. Assault rifle or not, the thoughts of two murdered police officers left lying in the middle of the interstate for doing their jobs is haunting, tragic, and maddening. I've been to that Wal-Mart a few times. It's right off I-40, a particular stretch long known as a hot spot for police searching for dope runners and speeders.

As to the suspects, lots of speculation because they haven't released names or motive yet, or as AP asks, "why they were pulled over". This grisly picture posted in the local Commercial Appeal doesn't shine much light on anything but the fact one of them is a young man, although in the back of the vehicle is what appears to be a blue plastic storage bin. Maybe that's why they pulled them over, or maybe the police now profile young white scruffy guys driving mini-vans. Or maybe they were just speeding.

Details will come but right now there are some discrepancies per usual, such as what guns they had (reports now say a long rifle and handgun, not AK-47s) and how the traffic stop occurred (first officer pulled them over, second arrived, first officer was knocked the ground and the shooting started versus they just opened fire). And who tipped police to their final destination.

What has been released is the van's registration was to a "House of God's Prayer" in New Vienna, Ohio, a defunct church that according to reports was linked to the Ayrian nation in the 90s. We'll see if that makes the story take off.

MORE 5/21/10

Details coming in. Suspect sounds fairly paranoid, talking about bankruptcy of the US in '33, the moneychangers and such. Comment from their webpage:

Let's face it. If there wasn't a "traffic stop" no one would be dead!

Yeah, that's logical. In a crazyass kind of way. The police dash cam likely won't be released out of respect and sensitivity to the officers' families but it probably tells the story.

Speaking of respect for the deceased, did the Commercial Appeal go too far in showing the picture of the 16 year old lying on the ground beside the vehicle? It was such a grisly attack they probably figured people wanted to see, but there are murders in this city all the time and they hardly ever show crime scene photos on the front page.

Pan Am 281 Hijacker Surrenders

Here's CNN:

Soltren "will finally face the American justice system that he has been evading for more than four decades," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

Yes, thanks to our friendly southern neighbor Fidel. Here's the New York Murdoch Post with a bit more:

"He wanted to get this behind him," a source said.

The State Department arranged for security personnel to accompany Soltren early yesterday morning on a flight to Kennedy Airport.

And here's the Gray Lady:

Last month, Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District, filed a request in United States District Court asking that the case against Mr. Soltren be activated, explaining: “The government believes that the defendant will be returning to the United States shortly.”

The Times goes on to say there's no word on whether the Cuban government played any role in his return. How could they not? There were State and FBI personnel aboard the plane. It's unlikely our recently unclinched fist allows US personnel to fly into Cuba and snatch dissidents now, nor would Fidel allow them to casually leave of their own accord. So please. The real question is how deep their involvement was and why. Keep in mind this man was a Puerto Rican terrorist.

As to Soltren's motivation, there's no doubt he probably wanted to 'get it behind him' and see his family again. But at 66 wouldn't he naturally assume that getting it behind him might mean only seeing his family during prison visitations? Was that enough (maybe) or was this perhaps calculated based on the current Attorney General and his past history with Puerto Rican terrorists in general, banking on some kind of humanitarian sentence or outright pardon at some point?

Regardless, the Cuban angle seems the most intriguing part of this story.