NATO Says the U.S. is Still Staying in Afghanistan Until 2014,Washington Post Poll Doesn't Bode Well For Obama, DOJ Disapproves of Texas Voter ID Bill: P.M. Links

• NATO says the Afghan exit timeline remains the same in spite of Sunday's massacre of 16 civilians by a U.S. soldier. Meanwhile Newt Gingrich manages to make this tragedy all about American soldiers' lives.

• 39 percent of responders to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll "strongly disapprove" of Obama's presidency. Another 11 percent "somewhat disapprove."
• The Department of Justice says the Texas bill which requires a photo ID for voting is discriminatory. 
• Today in bad-asses: The 71-year-old French doctor who co-founded Doctors Without Borders snuck into Syria last month in order to operate on some folks. He's also been known to wander into Vietnam, Chechnya, Iraq and other places more fit for fleeing from.
• In tech news, homeless people were all dressed up as wireless hotspots and it made the blogs uncomfortable.
• "Let's go for a long ride Sunday; let's go to the mountains weekends; let's read books in front of fires…" Richard Nixon posthumously confirmed as unsettlingly adorable whilst courting Pat.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

NATO says the Afghan exit timeline remains the same in spite of Sunday's massacre of 16 civilians by a U.S. soldier.

Sure, why not.

[Afghanistan Bananastan]

This is like the worst chat room ever.

[zz]

If you can appreciate the beauty in both men and women and find yourself attracted to the person regardless of their gender, then Datebi*cO'M is the site for you. Here you can find hundreds of thousands of open-minded singles & couples looking to explore their bisexuality.fhgk

[Fist of Etiquette]

Those who wish to connect to the 4G network offer a donation that goes directly to the homeless person.

As does the radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.

[Brett L]

Oh please, Its not like they're getting any more than your cellphone. Also, bums as wifi hotspots makes the cockles of my evil libertarian heart a little warmer.

[Fist of Etiquette]

While their hearts warm in their chests like a pan of microwave brownies! You heartless git.

Although, I could go for some heart brownies right about now...

[Brett L]

I think I just covered that I have a heart, and it has cockles. Or maybe that's just lunch working its way through my gut.

[Brett L]

Fuck you, Arlen Specter. I hope you die slowly in bulldozer accident, you worthless, unprincipled fuck. Your crying makes my soul take wing.

"Former Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) writes in a new book that President Obama ditched him in the 2010 election after he helped Obama win the biggest legislative victory of his term by passing healthcare reform.

Specter also claims that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) did not uphold his promise to grant him seniority accrued over 28 years of service in the Senate as a Republican."

[Fist of Etiquette]

My Schadenfreude got a boner after reading that article.

[Joe M]

That is delicious. Glad to see being a two-faced asshole doesn't always pay off.

[Cytotoxic]

Such conflicted feelings. On the one hand, fuck you Arlen Specter. On the other hand, ha! fuck you Arlen Specter.

[Pro Libertate]

How is presenting a photo ID discriminatory for voting but not for everything else it's required for? Frankly, it's hard not to hear that without thinking that someone out there likes the idea of voter fraud.

[Brett L]

Given that every adult human in Texas is required by law to possess photo ID at all times in public, I'm uncertain how this could possibly be an undue burden on anyone.

[Zeb]

I'd say the requirement to carry ID is an undue burden.

[Nipplemancer]

this.

[herba derba]

IDs are really heavy. They can encumber your average gnome mage and halve their movement rate.

Voting in a federal election is a privilege, not a right.

[Zeb]

IDs aren't free and it takes effort to get one.

It's not a natural right, but voting sure as hell is a political right for any adult citizen. And in case you want to bring up convicted felons, I think that they should be able to vote even if they are in prison.

[T]

Texas willl give you an ID if you say you can't pay for one and need it to vote. If you can't be arsed to get your free ID, I find it difficult to believe you'll be arsed to vote.

[BigT]

Can you get into the DOJ or the Supreme Court without showing an ID??? How could it be discrimatory?

[Zeb]

Just to be clear, I don't think it is discriminatory (except against people who don't have ID). I just don't like the "papers please" implications.

Also, the government giving something away doesn't make it free. Come on now.

[herba derba]

A thumbprint is required when getting a TX ID or driver's license.

[So...]

Since voting isn't a right, it would be completely OK to just pass a law that states there won't be any voting from now on.

Let's see where that might contradict the constitution...

[herba derba]

Go ahead, find the contradiction. The federal government gets to set up the laws for federal elections including any restrictions on eligibility. Not at all likely that anyone would try to abolish voting altogether, at least not yet, and if they did ... revolution baby!

[Xenocles]

IV.4: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government..."

There has to be some voting, but any state can deny the vote to anyone for any reason not expressly prohibited in the US or state constitution.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Given that every adult human in Texas is required by law to possess photo ID at all times in public...

Is that true? What's the penalty for failure to carry ID?

[Rhywun]

Yeah, that sounds like something out of Russia or China, not Texas.

[Res Publica Americana]

Third motion here -- please, clarify. This can't be true, not in Texas.

[Brett L]

As of 2009, all lawfully detained persons must provide their true name and address to an officer of the law upon pain of a class B misdemeanor. You may be detained for up to 24 hours if you are not able to provide a photo ID of sufficient quality while the police verify your information.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Well, that does sound like a de facto requirement to carry ID.

[Joe M]

Yeah, it's a bit of a two step process though. You could, in theory, give your information and have it verified in a matter of minutes.

[herba derba]

Great, another Republican shill. I can hear you walking in your wingtips and $2000 suit you racist exploiter.

[kilroy]

I was thinking: So if I try to buy some booze and they won't sell it without a photo ID I can sue for discrimination?

[RoboCain]

Are you black or lesbian or something? Then no.

[GOP!1!1!!!!!]

No, because with that SHARIAZZZZ!1!1!!!! laws and all, alcohol is illegal. Except for wine, because the west coast progressive fucks drink that swill.

[db]

Whenever I go to vote in PA I make a point of pulling out my ID and looking surprised when they tell me I don't need it. Last time I almost said "oh, well, if you don't need ID, then just put me down as the first open name on your list" but figured I might get in some kind of trouble.

[Aaron Aaron]

Thanks.

[AlmightyJB]

Well, for one thing. you're discriminating against people who want to commit voter fraud.

[Pro Libertate]

That's a fair point.

[Tony]

You don't have a fundamental right to do any of the other things IDs might be required for.

Libertarians for showing your papers!

[John]

Last I looked traveling was a fundamental right you nasty little Aspy.

[John]

And when some hack like you engages in voter fraud, you have disenfranchised someone by illegally canceling their vote. We have to ensure only legal votes are cast to ensure that people have the right to vote.

[Chupacabra]

Not when he votes in place as dead people, dogs or cats.

[Matrix]

Is there any liberal stance you don't stand behind?

[John]

If there is, I have never seen it.

[Lord Humungus]

Tony certainly stands for property theft.

[Matrix]

also, owning a gun is a constitutionally protected right, but I still need to have ID and all sorts of other burdens placed on me if I wish to purchase one.

[BigT]

Ask any 21-35 yr old and they sure as hell need an ID to get booze.

[Rich]

This.

Furthermore, don't forget that the ballot is more powerful than the bullet.

[jimmy hat]

As one of those crazy people that doesn't vote, I respectfully disagree.

[Rich]

Note to self: Use less subtle sarcasm.

[jimmy hat]

I feel dumb now...

and othered

[Sudden]

Considering that the ballot is essentially just an exercise in choosing who is going to be commanding the guns of the state, that is a dubious proposition at best.

[An unnamed source]

Luckily I live in a state where I don't need no stinkin ID or paperwork for a private transaction.

[Mr. FIFY]

I'd like to see a world where "papers" are never required for anything, Tony (like marriage, for instance, hint).

Why don't you?

[Xenocles]

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

See also Heller v. DC.

[Zeb]

Well, it discriminates against people who don't have photo IDs, for one thing.

I'm against an absolute requirement for photo ID for voting for several reasons. First and foremost, I am just uncomfortable with requiring people to have ID at all. I know that practically you need one these days, but you shouldn't need one to exercise basic political rights (or to travel, or to do a bunch of other things that you already need one for). And I am just not convinced that voter fraud is enough of a problem to warrant such requirements.

[John]

Fine Zeb. Then make it illegal for business to require such and tell the TSA that you can't require anyone to show such getting on a plane.

[Zeb]

Well businesses can do what they want. And the TSA shouldn't exist (at least in the form that it does). I don't see what good it does to know the names of everyone on a plane anyway.
Voting is a fundamental right of citizenship.

[John]

So is not having your vote canceled out by someone illegally voting.

How is having an ID anymore burdensome than getting to the polling place. Most people don't live within walking distance of the polling place. You are expecting them to own a car or bum a ride. Why aren't you against that?

[Zeb]

Go ahead and call me an impractical, starry eyed idealist on this one. I'm sticking with it. ID requirements are becoming too common in my opinion and making government issued IDs more universal is just going to encourage more of that.

[Zeb]

Go ahead and call me an impractical, starry eyed idealist on this one. I'm sticking with it. ID requirements are becoming too common in my opinion and making government issued IDs more universal is just going to encourage more of that.

[herba derba]

Voting is a fundamental right of citizenship.

Nope.

[Zeb]

How do you figure? I can't even think of another use of citizenship that doesn't involve crossing borders.

[kbolino]

Amendment XXIV:

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax."

[Gojira]

That was kind of a douchey response there, John. He never said he wanted to make it illegal for businesses, and nobody here thinks the TSA is legitimate to begin with, so why even bring that up?

I share his skepticism of a society where everyone has to carry ID at all times.

[John]

But that society has arisen without government Jim. The fact is you can't live in this society without a picture ID> You can't open a bank account. You can't get a legal job. You can't live in this society without one. And that has nothing to do with the government.

Given that, it is ridiculous to argue that requiring one to vote is some kind of an undo burden. Everyone has an ID already. So how can it be a burden?

[Gojira]

I have no idea what you're talking about with the "legal job" part. Two of my four jobs since finishing college have not asked me for an ID (including my current one), though I did have to fill out a questionaire for a background check and provide all the usual info (SSN, etc.)

I'm not talking about the "undue burden" part, I'm talking about not wanting to live in a land where one is a pariah for not walking around properly coded.

[Gojira]

And I do think it is heavily gov't influenced, because of the pervasice use of DL numbers and SSN for identification purposes.

[R C Dean]

You can't get a legal job.

True(ish). Employers of more than 50 people (I think) have to confirm your citizenship on a Form I-9, which requires that you produce one of a variety of government-issued IDs, most if not all of which are photo IDs.

[Ska]

Not limited to employers of 50 people. Every employer needs to keep an I-9 on file. Most will keep a copy of your license or whatever verification items you provided. Many states also require that you file the I9 with them (or a similar filing).

[robc]

But that requirement is due to government, so it doesnt fit John's premise.

I cant think of any REQUIREMENT for a photo ID that doesnt involve government regulation.

[Brandon]

Papers! Show your papers or you cannot stay in the land of the free!

[John]

If you are pissed off about having papers, take it up with the free market. It is not the government that made not having an ID well neigh impossible, it was the economy.

You guys act like no one ever thought having to have an ID until this came along. Bullshit. IDs are universal now because you can't do business without them. And that has nothing to do with the government.

[Fluffy]

It is not the government that made not having an ID well neigh impossible, it was the economy.

That's not even remotely true.

ID for opening a bank account is a function of our money laundering laws.

ID for employment is a function of our tax withholding system.

In fact, I would say that the entire system of pervasive photo ID would not exist at all if it weren't for driver's licenses. After it became necessary for everyone to carry photo ID to drive, then it became routine to ask for ID in private situations.

[robc]

And into the 90s, Vermont driver's licenses werent photo IDs. Finally the G-men made them put photos on them and laminate them.

[Apogee]

the G-men made them put photos on them and laminate them.

That sounds dirty.

[Maxxx]

ID for opening a bank account is a function of our money laundering laws.

Not true.

Or do you think that anyone should be able to walk into a bank and cash a check made out to xxx with no more verification of their identity than pinky swearing?

[Pro Libertate]

I think something to make sure you're the person you say you are is reasonable. Voter fraud is a real problem, after all. Whether that's a state-issued photo ID is a different matter.

[Zeb]

This addresses part of my objection. An eligible person should be allowed to vote, period. I honestly don't know if voter fraud is a significant problem. If it is, then I suppose something should be done. But there need to be alternatives to government issues photo ID.

[Maxxx]

How do you know if the person is 'eligible'?

[Ice Nine]

>>The Justice Department's civil rights division on Monday objected to a new photo ID requirement for voters in Texas because many Hispanic voters lack state-issued identification.

Uh, yeah-uh.

[T]

A matricula consular doesn't count as state issued ID? Why on earth not?

[Ice Nine]

I guess it does. Hard to imagine why it might count as one that proves that you are likely to be eligible to vote in the US, however.

[Marshall Gill]

Frankly, it's hard not to hear that without thinking that someone out there likes the idea of voter fraud.

I couldn't believe that you didn't get IDed the first time I voted. How could anyone know if there was voter fraud, or not, if you don't know who is voting?

When I voted in the Primary for Ron Paul, it was the first time I had been IDed. Wow, what a burden, pulling my drivers license out of my wallet!!

[Realist]

"Frankly, it's hard not to hear that without thinking that someone out there likes the idea of voter fraud."
Gee ya think!

[sage]

Purple dye on the index finger would get around the id requirements.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Good point. Why aren't we hearing about this?

[conspiracy theorist]

The DOJ claims it's discriminatory against Hispanics. I'm starting to see how this works -- run guns, smuggle drugs, launder money, and in turn the cartels will ensure "turnout" for Dems.

[herba derba]

I don't understand why Obama has such a low approval level. Didn't Limbaugh's remarks about Sandra Fluke effectively kill the Republican Party?

[Brandon]

The most powerful S-word ever uttered.

[Lord Humungus]

and the great jobs report! And the stock market! Why, he's a shoe-in!

[Lord Humungus]

related
http://www.weeklystandard.com/.....33469.html

[RoboCain]

"Coca-Cola and Pepsi said Friday they have lowered levels of a chemical in caramel coloring to comply with a California law, but insisted the drinks pose no health risks and recipes will not change."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/coke-.....47754.html

[RoboCain]

"The ABA added that a person would need to drink massive amounts of cola to reach a risk level similar to the dosing in mice -- 2,900 cans of cola every day for 70 years -- that served as the basis for California's decision."

[herba derba]

How many children have to die before you accept the sensibility of common sense consumer regulations?

[dumba bumba]

Yeah, all kinds of people consume 74,095,000 cans of cola in their lifetime.

[herba derba]

THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!

[Brett L]

The only way CA's crazy requirements for potential carcinogen labelling makes sense is if the entire apparatus of state is wholly owned by tort lawyers. Plus, I get fucking yobbos telling me that the state of California "knows" things like this cause cancer and everyone else is just a shill for... I don't know what, Big Cancer, maybe?

[T]

I love going out to Cali, and how every single building has that stupid carcinogen sign. Wow, that was helpful. Thanks for letting me know that every building in the fucking state has carcinognes in it. How does this help me out, exactly?

[Lord Humungus]

if only you were free to gambol where there are no buildings.

[T]

Well, all you fibertarian city-statists ruined that option for me. Now I'm reduced to gamboling across parking lots.

[Silver Fox]

Lawn still snow-covered eh?

[Alack]

I love going out to Cali, and how every single building has that stupid carcinogen sign.

CA elementary schools often have the signs, because toner in the printers in the teacher's lounge could cause cancer- if you drink it, I assume. Glad to be out of that horrid nanny state.

[Old Man With Candy]

As soon as you see "CSPI" or Michael Jacobson, you know it's utter bullshit.

[RoboCain]

Fuckers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains!

http://slutsunite.org/

[herba derba]

I chose "My Mom is a Slut" and did so proudly.

[Brandon]

Off-brand luggage?

[Silver Fox]

Gee, no love for the asexuals?

I feel micro-aggressed and othered.

Or something.

[Bingo]

Totally pinned to my pinterest.

[Gojira]

In news of the hilarious:

An entire football team is cut at Olive Garden just before their game was scheduled to start.

[Paul]

"Every player got up and left while he was still talking. There were 15 to 20 angry, large individuals."

Because they didn't finish their meal, they will be slightly smaller. this is a win for the environment.

[RoboCain]

They were also spared having to eat at the Olive Garden.

[herba derba]

You're not counting the half gallon of "I'm depressed" chocolate ice cream they ate when they got home.

[Paul]

Was this a women's league? I didn't get that from the article.

[Pro Libertate]

I didn't realize how little the AFL paid until hearing about this. Wow.

[Gojira]

Yeah I didn't either. Those guys are risking life-time injuries for shit pay. They must really love the game.

[Paul]

I was watching a documentary about Toots Schorr, New York restarauteur, and some old-salt sports writer was remembering the days when the sports writers made the same salaries as the players they were covering.

[Pro Libertate]

At least some are staying "in football" to preserve an outside chance of getting back into the NFL. And you've got to think some name players are making more than that.

[herba derba]

They must really love the game.

They're just buying the lottery ticket. Some arena league players make it into the NFL.

Is there a quota that requires NFL teams to provide players for the arena league as is the case for NFL Europe?

[Sudden]

It works like this:

The NFL teams get camp rosters of 80 bodies, they have to whittle it down to 53 by the start of the regular season. So these guys in the Arena league are playing there in hopes of getting invited to a team's camp on a UDFA contract. Upon getting to camp, they can pull down something in the neighborhood of $10,000 after tax during the camp before getting cut at the 53 man roster deadline. And there is always the outside chance that they get kept or placed on the practice squad for a year and manage to make something of their opportunity.

[fish]

The game was still played, with unfilled roster spots being taken by replacement players, some of whom arrived to the arena minutes before kickoff. One backup quarterback switched teams before the game after getting "drafted" during a pregame selection. As a result, the season opener had the feeling of a pick-up game down by the local high school field.

The NFL Network broadcast the game live. Announcers reportedly couldn't identify a number of players.

Pittsburgh won 40-26, in front of more than 13,000 fans.

The Onion and Real Life converge!

[Nipplemancer]

awesome.

[db]

This is pretty funny; however I don't get how some players were "stuck" and had to find their way back to Pittsburgh on their own nickel. I thought if you were fired while on the road your employer was still liable to get you back home.

[Paul]

I thought if you were fired while on the road your employer was still liable to get you back home.

Canada doesn't see it this way...

[Paul]

39 percent of responders to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll "strongly disapprove" of Obama's presidency. Another 11 percent "somewhat disapprove."

50% strongly approve, 11% somewhat approve.

You ladies still feel good about a one-term Obama?

[Paul]

49% strongly approve, 11% somewhat approve.

Maff, how does it work?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Yeah, $4 gallon of gas going into vacay season, you don't want to be talking to the electorate about "long term" solutions. He's in trouble.

[Paul]

And apparently Romney is the answer.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I didn't say voters are geniuses.

[Paul]

50% approve!

[db]

I'd be curious to know the distribution of IQs among actual voters. Since the IQ scale is an enforced normal distribution it wohld be very interesting to compare to the actual voting population.

[herba derba]

If only we could limit voting to high-IQ Harvard grads!

[Paul]

Short high-iq Harvard grads... for the environment!

[Number 2]

So let me see...39% strongly disapprove, 11% somewhat disapprove (subtotal: 50%).

49% strongly approve, 11% somewhat approve (subtotal, 60%).

50%+60%=110%

So THAT'S what they mean by "giving 110%!"

[Paul]

Goddamnit! Quit bugging me with minor mathematical details! He's a chicago politician. You don't think he can pull another 10% out of his ass?

[Paul]

But actually, my math is correct. It's my presentation that's not correct.

What I mean is:

39% Strongly disapprove. 11% somewhat disapprove. That leaves 50% unaccounted for.

I'm flippantly deciding that the unaccounted 50% strongly approve. Conversely, the 11% which were already noted that 'somewhat disapprove' must also 'somewhat approve'.

Can't a man be cynical without the scrutiny? Let let me by cynical!

[Fatty Bolger]

The rest of the breakdown is:

Strongly Approve - 18%
Approve - 28%
Undecided - 4%

[Paul]

Noted below by Herba Derba.

At this point, if you're still on the fence about Obama, you'll probably pull the lever for him in November.

But I do have to admit that with all the green shoots everywhere...

[Fatty Bolger]

Yeah, that's what I get for not scrolling down.

The difference is significant because of voter enthusiasm and turnout. One of the reasons Rasmussen shows Romney with a bigger lead is because they only include likely voters.

[herba derba]

Reread the table.

28% strongly approve
18% somewhat approve
39% strongly disapprove
11% somewhat disapprove

Dyslexia is a crippling condition.

[Paul]

The table? You think I went to the link?

I was just taking the numbers in the blogpost literally.

If 39% strongly disapprove and 11% "somewhat disapproving", I'm guessing that that leaves the rest "strongly approving" and anyone who says I somewhat disapprove of something usually means that they're not really completely against it.

Shorter: He's not going quite far enough, so he needs four more years, you know, so we can see his full legacy. Because I somewhat disapprove.

I'm just guessing that when you describe your feelings on a sitting president as "somewhat disapproving", that there's still some love down in there.

[Chupacabra]

So 28% of the respondents were government employees?

[RoboCain]

Oh, for Christ's sake:

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012.....-medicine/

[John]

That is the train wreck to end all train wrecks. I love it. I hope the Mormons get on their bikes and descend on them too.

[omnibot]

Conservatives are dumb

[Brandon]

Yep. Unfortunately, liberals seem to be in a competition to prove they are dumber.

[herba derba]

If only! The silence would be so welcome.

[Silver Fox]

I see what you did there.

[fish]

This is truly magic!

What I found especially interesting is that when the Occupy Women's Day march met the Occupy Jesus march coming the other way, the two groups passed though each other like neutrinos through a shadow; instead of the clash turning into a confrontation, the two groups' ideologies were so far apart from each other that neither side had any way to challenge the others' narrative.

[John]

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....williamson

Coming across the famous passage in which Douglass quotes the slavemaster Auld, Miss Williams was startled by the words: "If you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there will be no keeping him. It will forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master." The situation seemed to her familiar, and her essay was a blistering indictment of the failures of the largely white faculty of her school: "When I find myself sitting in a crowded classroom where no real instruction is taking place I can say history does repeat itself."

[John]

Her teacher was so offended by the essay that she circulated copies of it to the rest of the faculty and to the principal. Miss Williams, an A student, suddenly began to receive Ds. According to accounts, her mother received harassing telephone calls from teachers who suggested that she was in some way disturbed rather than merely observant. She was forced eventually to withdraw from the school and enroll in an even worse one.

[Ice Nine]

I for one wholeheartedly agree with that racist girl's teachers' becoming niggardly with the A grades.

[The Apple Cart]

Miss Williams* ** received an award from the Frederick Douglass Foundation of New York* and had the chance to tell her story on Glenn Beck's television show**.

* Uncle Toms

** Racists

[RoboCain]

"How To Decide On A Candidate In One Simple Chart"

http://front.moveon.org/how-to.....ple-chart/

[omnibot]

https://civ.moveon.org/donatec4/share_launch7a.html?rc=shadowbox-donationtest10_nm

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We're not going to let them get away with it.

[Bill Maher]

And now conservative Super PACs can spend unlimited corporate money on TV ads filled with more lies.

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[Bill Maher]

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[herba derba]

"The results so far have been amazing."

"Your Billing Information"

[Paul]

The 'Am I Rich" decision box should be reversed. "Yes" should go to Democrat, "No" should go to Republican.

Everyone knows that only Walmart-shopping, NASCAR fans vote GOP.

[Nipplemancer]

A West Palm Beach grand jury declared "fundamentally inadequate" the medical care given to an 18-year-old who died after two head injuries he received at the county juvenile lockup were ignored for hours by guards, supervisors and the facility's superintendent.

[John]

WTF?

When the youths were finished eating, an ordinary search of the boys for contraband food turned into an episode of "horseplay," as officers laughed and joked with the youths they were searching, the report said.

Eric was "roughly tossed in the air, striking the wall and/or floor with his head and shoulder as he came down," the report said. Security video from that day showed Eric wobbly on his feet after he fell.

At about 1:30 a.m. that night, Eric began to hallucinate: His cellmate called guards after he heard Eric scream "It's going in my eye" and "Get it off me."

The guard called his supervisor for help, and both officers saw Eric staggering around his cell. The youth was so disoriented he had to "crawl" out of his cell. "It hurts," he screamed, referring to his head.

[Brett L]

I'm guessing this "horseplay" is going to turn into physical and sexual assault when the facts come out.

[Nipplemancer]

And then there's my favorite part when they are fired and charged with manslaughter still on the job.
It's absolutely sickening.

[John]

Yeah that was a real kick in the balls. They killed that kid and got away with it. Fucking scumbags.

[Brandon]

Any bets on whether Dunphy shows up in this thread?

[Nipplemancer]

He shat all over that other cop thread, though I doubt this would be on his radar because while we may see these people as part of the Thin Blue Line, these people are just babysitters with badges to other cops.

[RoboCain]

"Recalling the moment 27-year-old Paul showed him a positive pregnancy test, Jason said: 'I was shocked and scared and didn't understand how it could have happened while he was taking his testosterone tablets, which he took to aid his masculine appearance."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....ather.html

[db]

I'm so terribly confused about which tab goes in what slot here.

[Paul]

PICTURED: Britain's first transgendered male mother breaks up with baby's gay father

And will our new constitution brokered from our upcoming constitutional convention set aside protections for this group? Talk about othering!

[herba derba]

One of the commenters claims that this is not Britain's first transgendered male mother so Paul is not really historic.

Daily Mail hacks!

[fish]

To hell with othering! I can't keep the number of permutations straight (sorry) anymore!

[Paul]

Ok, the second and fourth pictures just threw off every conceived notion I had about the entire universe right out the goddamned window.

[db]

'I was shocked and scared and didn't understand how it could have happened while he was taking his testosterone tablets, which he took to aid his masculine appearance."

Nine Months Later:
Hairiest. Baby. Ever.

[It burns when I do it......]

Well now we know why rectal was so worked up this weekend!.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....ead_module

[omnibot]

A 12-year-old girl is suing her school in Minnesota after being forced to hand over her Facebook password and punished for posts she made on the social networking site
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tec.....s-row.html

[T]

My neighbors couldn't get us all to agree to bring the county in to enforce traffic laws, so they're trying to back door it. I predict much hilarity will ensue.

[Brett L]

Holy crap. The back side of Spring has come up since I left.

[Playa Manhattan]

If I had to hire a security company, it would certainly be called Top Gun.

[John]

What amazes me about the whole ID thing, among other things, is that if someone got up and said "we can't expect Mexicans and black people to carry IDs like respectable people", they would rightly be tagged as a racist. Yet, that is exactly what DOJ is saying.

[Matrix]

Food and weapons are my right, too.

[John]

There is a stronger case for mandating the purchase of fire arms than there is for purchasing of insurance.

[Nipplemancer]

but guns are scary John

[RoboCain]

Only when someone else has them.

[Lord Humungus]

hmmm... last couple times I voted in Michigan, I had to show ID.

[herba derba]

Yeah, but that was just for one election.

[rather]

Student IDs, and Military Veteran IDs are not accepted in Texas for voting purposes; maybe they don't want them to vote too 😉

[John]

Citation?

[An unnamed source]

Many students and military members vote "back home" through absentee ballots. Why should they get two votes?

[Zeb]

Don't most students and military members also have driver's licenses?

[Fist of Etiquette]

"Let's go for a long ride Sunday; let's go to the mountains weekends; let's read books in front of fires..."

All things the drugged-out commies would never do.

[Joe M]

the controversy, which largely centered around the ethics of using humans as walking commodities, even earned its own Twitter hashtag on Sunday night, with one angry Twitter user asking whether anyone else thought using homeless people as wireless hotspots was "disturbing, dehumanizing, offensive?"

Newsflash! Paying someone for providing you a service is dehumanizing!

[Silver Fox]

They should've done it for free a hot lunch instead.

[Graphite]

Has this been pointed out? The body scan machines the TSA is using were invented by a man named Steven Smith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapiscan_Systems

[RoboCain]

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/new.....e_charges/

[STEVE SMITH]

RAPE NOT JUST HOBBY FOR STEVE. RAPE A CAREER!

[herba derba]

My career was raped by affirmative action!

[fish]

It's important to love the things you do! Godspeed STEVE SMITH.

[Silver Fox]

"I wasn't sufficiently warned about the health risks of smoking!"

The plaintiffs say they were hoodwinked into buying an addictive product and have since developed a range of smoking-related illnesses, including lung cancer and emphysema.

The tobacco firms say the suits amount to "an opportunistic cash grab" as the risks of smoking have been known for decades.

[wimpy dude]

I'm participating in a self-defense class this semester. The day before class started, the instructor sends out an email with information on the class. A paragraph explained that the class was not a martial arts class, so it was not recommended for men. Are men born with inherently better self-defense skills? I didn't think so. Guys get mugged too. And what about the fact that 10% of rape victims are men?

[herba derba]

I have an old brochure for a wiccan retreat which said that there would be a class on the seven stages of a shakra orgasm, but that men were barred from attending. I guess men can't have shakra orgasms or don't need training to achieve them.

[Ice Nine]

Are men born with inherently better self-defense skills?

Well, not exactly a skill, but men are born with inherent testosterone. That puts them considerably ahead of women on the ol' propensity for self defense scale.

[herba derba]

Self-defense classes catering just to women are quite common. There are a good idea since they frequently include training to overcome female reluctance to use physical aggression. An all-female class removes the self-consciousness women may feel while yelling and kicking a practice dummy in the nads. Also, it is demoralizing for women to watch a man yelling and being aggressive during self-defense training.

[Old Man With Candy]

That's my purse! I don't know you!

[Idiots]

Don Trump Jr is an evil monster
http://www.tmz.com/2012/03/12/.....ds-animal/

[herba derba]

And?

[Idiots]

What about the poor elephant?

[Idiots]

Wow. I have to say I am dumbfounded at the stupidity of Donald Trump Jr killing an elephant. These people really just don't get it.

[RoboCain]

Funny, the article doesn't list the cape buffalo, the most dangerous game he killed.

[Juice]

the most dangerous game he killed

or is it?

[what you did there]

I see it

[Ron Paul won US Virgin Islands]

United States Virgin Islands Republican caucuses, 2012
Candidate Votes Percentage Unbound Delegates Delegates
Ron Paul 112[3] 29.2% 1 1
Mitt Romney 101 26.3% 6 7
Rick Santorum 23 6.0% 0 0
Newt Gingrich 18 4.7% 0 0
Uncommitted 130 33.9% 2 1
Unprojected delegates:[4] 0 0
Total: 384 100% 9 9

[omnibot]

What's the opposite of diversity? University!

[Coeus]

Typical Austin liberal bullshit:

http://slatest.slate.com/posts.....versy.html

"oh nos!!! you gave a homeless person an opportunity to make money instead of just taking it from someone else at gunpoint and giving it to them!!! Burn the heritic!!!"

[Coeus]

Ahh, dammit, I just read the actual links. My bad.

[The Pointer-Outer]

The candyass is strong on that thread.

[Juice]

The Department of Justice says the Texas bill which THAT requires a photo ID for voting is discriminatory.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Church-state news: Clergywoman (called by Democrats) testifies against bill which would make it a crime to transport a minor across state lines to evade parental-notification laws. The clergywoman says she would disobey such a law and cites her religion as justification for her position:

"Appearing as a Democratic Party witness...Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, president and dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. recalled the time she took a 15-year-old girl she had never met before to get an abortion...."if helping young women like her should be made illegal I will, nonetheless, continue to do it."

Ragsdale cited her vows as an Episcopal priest as the reason why she would "have no choice" but to break the law."

http://bit.ly/yR4oVT

[Eduard van Haalen]

So far no comment from American Atheists - I'll try and double check for the morning links.

[Eduard van Haalen]

And Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

[The Pointer-Outer]

Democrats use religion in politics, too, but only when it supports their cause.

E.G., when Obama utters the phrase "my brother's keeper".

[Eduard van Haalen]

Senate Tea Party Caucus (Rand, DeMint, Lee) propose a long-term budget plan.

[Eduard van Haalen]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/.....get/355421

[Mike Laursen]

Richard Nixon posthumously confirmed as unsettlingly adorable whilst courting Pat.

In his new book, "God, No!", Penn Jillette repeats a claim that Nixon, in his later years, was a fan of rap music. Anybody heard this one before? I couldn't find much in the way of independent confirmation.