SHAME on this administration for not making a statement on the attempted murder of Scott Olsen.

[piratefish08]

It seems the WH can't seem to race to a podium quick enough to cheer on Democratic protests in oil bearing countries.......


So what fucking gives?

[butterfly77]

1. Shame on you...

for posting this BULLSHIT!

[Tippy]

6. I agree with your post....BS

[trueblue2007]

18. I AGREE, WHAT A NASTY, rotten post --- unrecommend

[libertypirate]

41. Agreed, sounds to be like baiting people.... /nt

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lamp_shade]

2. Unrec

[Atman]

3. The hyperbole isn't necessary.

What happened to Olsen is a bad enough, and it is clear that the OPD acted recklessy and stupidly. But to call it "attempted murder" isn't accurate, and only fans the flames. That said, I agree that the president needs to speak out. For a soldier who has served his country in battle to be virtually gunned down at home by one of our own police forces is the ultimate illustration of just how bad things have become, and it demands the attention of our leaders.

[Robb]

4. I'm just grateful DU likes Marines again.

Long dry spell there.

[coalition_unwilling]

20. I like enlisted Marines. Officers (like Ollie North), um, not so much - n/t

[msanthrope]

34. Just in time for the Corps birthday! Yippee!!!! nt

[KamaAina]

38. Shamar Thomas also has a fan base hereabouts

the Marine who took on forty NYPD officers singlehandedly at OWS -- and prevailed!

[Inuca]

5. Attempted murder?!?!?!?

What happened is bad enough, no need to get ridiculous about it.

[zonkers]

8. It is silly to expect an Admin. statement at this time but I do think shooting a projectile at

someone's head from what seemed like twenty feet away does seem like some form of attempted murder.

[piratefish08]

15. I don't think it's silly or too soon for a statement.

If this had happened to a US war Veteran at a protest, say, in London, or some other 'peaceful' area OFF US soil, the administration would have been ALL over it by now.



am I wrong?

[JuniperLea]

44. Yes, you are wrong...

Once the cop is identified, then maybe.

Keep your pants on for fuck's sake.

He'd be busy 24/7 if he made a goddamn statement every time someone thought he should. Balderfuckingdash.

[Inuca]

16. I disagree

It was reckless use of force, but not attempted murder. By the way, I have no legal background whatsoever (does watching Law and Order count?), so I may be wrong. But to me attempted murder is a purposeful act done with the intent to kill somebody, which was definitely not the case here.

[piratefish08]

19. i apologized in a post down thread for that phrase and revised my statement a bit

I didn't change the thread title because it felt "sneaky" to me.......

I don't apologize for the sentiment though - just the phrasing.

[SusanaMontana41]

39. Without reading the mind of the coperpetrator, how can you say

murder "definitely" was not the intent?

[Le Taz Hot]

7. K & R

but that just registered "0" on the rec. count. Luckily for DU, the Thought Police are up early this morning else we'd have to start thinking for ourselves and stuff.

[butterfly77]

9. Yes..

isn't it a shame that many seem to know what the President's THOUGHTS are at any given moment...

[dionysus]

10. argle bargle argyle rage.

[piratefish08]

11. SHAME on this administration for not making a statement on Iraq War Veteran, Marine Scott Olsen

being shot in the face while exercising his First Amendment Rights.

It seems the WH can't seem to race to a podium quick enough to cheer on Democratic protests in oil bearing countries.......


So what fucking gives?


edited - "attempted murder" was a cheap shot rooted in my rage for the attacks on US citizens by local police. it was over the top and unnecessary ---

I revised my statement.........

[Lint Head]

13. Isn't he in critical condition? What if he dies? What if he had been killed?

Would it have been declared an unfortunate accident, negligent homicide or manslaughter? What the Oakland Police did was despicable. The mindset of the police force is to suspect, arrest and use violence if they deem necessary. There is no gray area or real negotiation.
There are good cops that do good things but you can't have good cops without bad cops or you wouldn't know the difference.

[hifiguy]

12. K&R

The silence is shameful. And expected.

[anamandujano]

23. A statement reminding everyone that the people have a right

to assemble and possibly that the local governments and police should not play rough with them.

Well, he's too busy campaigning. He's got to get that nod again so we can choose which Repuke will run the country further into the ground.

OP may have minced words but the spirit is correct.

[AsahinaKimi]

14. I think at this point, I would rather hear from Jerry Brown...

He is running this state. He needs to get in the face of the Mayor and Police Chief. Some how don't believe that will happen. But I would applaud him, even if he did it quietly.

[Inuca]

17. Agree n/t

[coalition_unwilling]

26. Back in 2003, Brown was Mayor of Oakland when the OPD did the

exact same fucking thing to anti-war protesters. So I'm not holding my breath for some real leadership gesture from that Quisling Brown.

Nevertheless, I emailed the pathetic fucker yesterday to ask why he was remaining silent.

[KamaAina]

33. Bear in mind that Brown is a former mayor of Oakland

and still maintains a home there. So he definitely has a dog in this fight.

[coalition_unwilling]

21. Emphatic K&R for OP with revised language. Don't think the

behavior, as egregious as it was, rises to the standard of 'attempted murder'. More like 'felony assault with a deadly weapon'?

[ellisonz]

22. It would taint any legal case...

[Fumesucker]

24. That wasn't an issue when Obama commented on Private Manning..

[coalition_unwilling]

27. +1,000,000,000 x 1,000,000,000 - n/t

[ellisonz]

35. Different legal systems...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courts-martial_in_the_Unit...

Private Manning is not entitled to trial by jury.

[Fumesucker]

36. Yes, I know.. In the Manning case Obama is the CIC of the officers who will judge it..

Which makes it worse of course..

[ellisonz]

40. When you consult the UCMJ provisions on unlawful command influence...

It becomes clear that what Obama said was entirely consistent with UCMJ provisions. If they did not believe he had committed a violation he would not have been arrested...that was all that Obama essentially said - he did not order that he be found guilty.

Rules In General. Here are some general rules regarding Unlawful Command Influence:

The Commander may not order a subordinate to dispose of a case in a certain way. The law gives independent discretion to each commander at every level possessing authority to convene courts-martial. A senior commander may not try to influence the exercise of that discretion. However, a senior commander may:
1. Personally dispose of a case at the level authorized for that offense and for that commander.
2. Send a case back to a lower-level commander for that subordinate’s independent action.
3. Send a case to a higher commander with a recommendation for disposition.
4. Withdraw subordinate authority on particular types of cases.
5. Order charges pending at a lower level transmitted up for further consideration, including, if appropriate, referral.


http://www.ucmjdefense.com/Unlawful-Command-Influence.h...

[KamaAina]

25. California has oil, dammit!

although it's mostly down South, around Bakersfield, Long Beach, etc.

And the repukes won't let us tax it, either, so it's a potential bonanza for Big Oil. So when do we invade?

[WI_DEM]

28. Yes! everything is Obama's fault!!

so childish.

[coalition_unwilling]

32. Strawman alert - n/t

[piratefish08]

37. I didn't say anything was his fault. I said they should issue a statement.

a Marine Veteran was shot in the head by a US police officer on US soil and is in critical condition.

I shouldn't have said attempted murder. It was more like assault and battery with a tear gas canister to the head.


The point is - I think he should take a stand an reaffirm the right of US citizens to peacefully assemble and protest. First amendment shit.

The Constitution either matters, or it doesn't.


You don't think that is important enough for the President to comment on. I do.

Lets agree to disagree.

[JuniperLea]

45. Bull fucking shit... you are too!

You are saying he should have made a statement... who the fuck is to blame for his NOT making a statement? That would be him.

This is getting really stupid. And this OP is flamebait.

[TBF]

29. Agree. K&R nt

[Whisp]

30. unrec.

jeebus.

[KamaAina]

31. I'd settle for one from Mayor Quan

instead all we got was this:

http://oaklandnorth.net/2011/10/25/mayor-quan-issues-st...

Many Oaklanders support the goals of the national Occupy Wall Street movement. We maintained daily communication with the protest0rs in Oakland.

However, over the last week it was apparent that neither the demonstrators nor the City could maintain safe or sanitary conditions, or control the ongoing vandalism. Frank Ogawa Plaza will continue to be open as a free speech area from 6 am to 10 pm.

We want to thank the police, fire, public works and other employees who worked over the last week to peacefully close the encampment. We also thank the majority of the protestors who peacefully complied with city officials.

I commend Chief Jordan for a generally peaceful resolution to a situation that deteriorated and concerned our community. His leadership was critical in the successful execution of this operation. City Administrator Deanna Santana developed the plan and secured mutual aid from other departments and the State of California. She will direct departmental teams, including safety, public works, communications, to restore conditions at the Plaza so that it is available for public use.

The City welcomes all Oaklanders to continue to use the Plaza during daylight hours for peaceful protest.

Never thought I'd see the day when a mayor who was narrowly elected, thanks to heavy support from progressives (Oakland has ranked choice voting; most progressives supported Rebecca Kaplan but ranked Quan second), would resort to Bushian cant like "free speech area".

And, how does she get "peaceful" out of this?!



The woman in the wheelchair getting teargassed is a friend and fellow disability rights activist.

[MrSlayer]

43. Criminal negligence? Yes. Attempted murder? No.

This is drivel. And throwing in the obligatory Obama jab makes it worse.