February 24, 2015

No federal charges for Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin death

Source: USA Today

The Justice Department said its independent investigation found "insufficient evidence" to charge George Zimmerman with federal civil right violations in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

Attorney General Eric Holder said the evidence did not meet the "high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution," but the decision should not end efforts to explore racial tensions in the justice system. The decision closes the federal investigation.

"This young man's premature death necessitates that we continue the dialogue and be unafraid of confronting the issues and tensions his passing brought to the surface," Holder said in a statement. "We, as a nation, must take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future."

Daryl Parks, an attorney for the Martin family, told USA TODAY the decision represented an "injustice.''

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/24/no-federals-charges-against-george-zimmerman/23942297/

February 24, 2015

Did O'Reilly Threaten NYT Journo: "I am coming after you w/everything"?

New York Times reported that Bill's not happy with get his faux facts slapping back. As per the NY Times, it appears that Fox News numero uno guy, Bill O'Reilly, actually veiled a threat (in a phone conversation) to a NYT reporter that there would be repercussions if he (O'Reilly) "felt" there was inappropriate remarks made about Bill (see NYT 2/23/15 item "Bill O’Reilly and Fox News Redouble Defense of His Falklands Reporting&quot
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It would seem that Bill (focused in pic above, from the NYT story) harbors ill wills towards anyone who would dare criticize him and actually have facts to back it up. As the NYT's article details that "some former colleagues {of O'Reilly's) continued to say he had exaggerated his experiences.

Doesn't anyone remember the fact that Fox won its case about telling facts? Fox News is merely entertainment (as the court did rule). Why should Bill O'Reilly (or the public/NYT for that mater) have his tid bits in a ringer (sorry for pu;punnies)? Literally, figuratively and religiously (don't slap me) - Fox News and its pews have the legal right to misinform the public...

As noted by the Campaign for Freedom website on "Fox, Lies & Videotape: debunking an internet myth" - guys like O'Reilly can lie when ever they wish. It's not (legally) the News; but entertainment instead. As noted by Campaign's thread;

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HOWEVER - that being said - O'Reilly being a hypocrite (par for the course) and threatening people... Ain't exactly kosher!

I'm just sayin.........

February 24, 2015

Gov's Kill Will: Fire Squad Denies Last Rites & Equal Rights/ Kill Women

Ambassadors are withdrawing (except the U.S. of course), in protest of Indonesia's firing squad killing of paranoid schizophrenic Marco Archer Cardoso Moriera (a Brazillian man accused of drug dealing). Beyond the factor of the mental stability (and the absurd issue of killing a drug user for drug issues), Indonesia also denied the man his last rites with a priest.

As Marco begged for last rites and soiled himself; Indonesia said NO to priest goodbye and then fuego!
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According to the CNN story (pic above) - "Indonesia to execute 6 for drug offenses". Where, it is noted that Marco was caught, in 2003, at Jakarta airport, with 13 kilograms of cocaine.

Isn't it amazing how countries always arrest the small guy, after the sale and seize the drugs (for ?resale/repeat?)!
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[center][font size=6]States Will Kill[/font][/center]
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In my previous thread here at DU ("Georgia and Texas Compete to Kill Mentally Ill&quot , it was pointed that Georgia executed mentally unstable Warren Hill and Texas also executed Robert Ladd (a man SO unfit for judgment that Ladd couldn't even count money).

Now that Texas executed women (Suzzane Basso Feb. 15, 2014 and the rephrehensible Lisa Coleman Sept. 17, 2014), Georgia figures it may as well end its 70 year old record of not executing a woman, as

Kelly Gissendaner is scheduled to be executed in Georgia - TOMORROW!
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[center][font size=6]DO YOU CARE?[/font][/center]
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That's the question and you have to answer (at least to yourself) - DO YOU CARE? Is it okay for anyone to kill - when it is NOT in self defense? My answer is NO! Even in cases of self defense, if you can do something other than kill - So Do!

but that's just silly ole me!

There's a wonderful attorney, whom I respect - that has his own blog titled "Lawyers on Strike". Both the counselor and I are in agreement. Injured people and defendants alike - Get SCREWED - by our legal system.

If you ain't rich - courts are worse than a bitch!

Today, the Lawyer of Lawyer's on Strike has a thread titled as the case of "Gamso v Greenfield" that remarks upon the issue of

"Is the Innocence Project anything more than a pain in the ass"?

Please take note, the Lawyers on Strike Blog author is not posing the question; but that another party of the BAR(s) is making the remark (on his blog Simple Justice and a thread titled "Sliding Scale") - that the Innocence Project can get in the way of criminal defense attorney's at law "goals" of changing the way the legal system addresses the guilty. In other words (actually - in the words of the Sliding Scale author) this lawyer (

the Innocence Project makes our {criminal defense} efforts harder.

What a moroni......

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Then, yours truly responded to his lordship (and instantly got bojo'd) with the following remarks

And the blog owned by attorney Scott Greenfield (@ScottGreenfield ) (where his Twitter account remarks the spot on reflection that he's a "Criminal defense lawyer and blawger at Simple Justice. I really wouldn't interest anybody outside of a small circle of friends" ... HAS this following remark demonstrating his lordship's propensity to really giving a chit about what anyone else thinks;

SHG Post author
February 24, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Don’t be a moron. I didn’t say the Innocent Project is a bad thing, or suggest that it shouldn’t exist. It does great work. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that there can’t be any negative collateral consequences to its work. I realize that many of the ideas here can be way too hard for some people to grasp, but try harder.

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Now - to show you how much of a genius this "nice guy" is - the lord of censor edited his posting to me that;

It’s stupidity like yours that makes me want to require commenters to pass a f——-g IQ test instead of just a simple math problem.

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Where I’ve responded with (and the party has not yet moderated/allowed)


I assume, my ability to post there, will be short lived (par for the courses) and that – quite possibly – my first sling of verbal arrow, will be my quick demise; and it has been. This considerate soul censors part of my comments and bojo's the rest as his tyrant will wills.

He also lost another posting party - with his snooty - I don't want to hear you patooties!

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Being a victim of mayhem, material adverse harms, seeing fellow victims involved in homicides/suicides; I'm miffed, almost beyond my civil restraints - (G R E A T L Y) - at the apathy and laxity of our fellow men & women. Over at JT's Blog, the commentators there want to have popcorn and cigarettes, while they roast marshmallows on the bonfires over the executed fried ones.

It's all so repulsive!

Since many of American's don't care about those found guilty without trial, going through Waterboarding torture sessions, it's no surprise that they could give a chit less, about convicted parties (innocent or not) getting executed.

IT's a DAMN SHAME!

Cameron Todd Willingham's case still makes this grown man's eyes well with water, ever single time there's an execution case. Even though Governor Perry and his gang put Cameron to death and also buried the Commission that was investigating the innocent man being executed; and that Governor Perry abused his power in office to threaten the prosecutor to "back off".....

with ALL of that degree of reprehensibility - I don't wish an execution of Governor Perry.

and never will!
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For the rest of the hateful world, maybe Boner'head, McConnell Duck and Rush LameBlah can put in a MitTwit BILL before Congress - that's entitled the Starship Troopers Taxpayers Savings Act - where the Murder by State is publicized on pay per view, in this way....

February 23, 2015

Pension Scare: Forbes Siedle Exposes Tampa Firemen/Police Pension Woes

In these days of main stream media being more timid than sheep shear, it is a welcomed respite to see multiple journalist's exposing a potential Domesday for Policemen/ Fireman in Tampa, Florida. As is currently being done by several Florida media outlets and Forbes's Contributor Edward "Ted" Siedle - in his recent online item;

[center][font size=5]$2 Billion City Of Tampa Pension Story Major Media Missed[/font][/center]
[br]Before we go into case specifics about why the Tampa Policemen's/ Firemen's Pensions Funds may be in peril (for those who care) - let's first take a look at the extremely impressive pedigree of Ted Siedle.. where he's been called

"the Sam Spade of Money Management," “the Financial Watchdog” and "the Pension Detective."

{Ted Siedle} I was born Edward Ahmed Hamilton Siedle in Trinidad, British West Indies and grew up in Trinidad, Venezuela, Panama, Peru, England, Uganda, Egypt and the U.S. I am a former SEC attorney, former Legal Counsel and Director of Compliance to Putnam Investments. For over 20 years, I owned securities trading and investment banking firms. My firm, Benchmark Financial Services, Inc. and I have pioneered over $1 trillion in forensic investigations of the money management industry. I am a founder of the Whistleblower Forensic Opportunity Trust. I am nationally recognized as an authority on pensions and investment management matters, having testified before the Senate Banking Committee regarding the mutual fund scandals and as an expert in various Madoff and other litigations. I am an active member of the Florida Bar.

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This history clearly notes that Mr. Siedle is an expert in both pension fund protocols/ law;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------and also in journalist investigating of same.
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[font size=4]Case of the Lady Lake, Florida - Public Pension Incredulity[/font]

It appears that this case has been going on for a little while. As noted by Managing Editor (Leanna Orr) of "Chief Investment Officer" magazine, it the story "The Riddle of Tampa Bay" there's this looming statements that begs questions

- NOT verbatim;



emphasis and liberty of "claim to" - are mine
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In exploring the issues that loom large, there's a question of prudence that continued to come to the fore. An examiner of sorts was brought to a little town northeast of Tampa called Lady Lake, Florida. In that community, the Public Pension meetng at the Town Hall was commencing, as an adviser (David West) simply stated the obvious - that;

Bowen, Hanes “do not appear to be keeping up with other managers’ industry standards, trading procedures, and compliance procedures,”

West said.

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When the flow of the Town Hall meeting continued to delve into more prudent questioning, the attorney and representatives of the pension group made an ultimatum threat that;


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Properly, the Town fired the parties and engaged 2 new money managers for the public pension - going forward.
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[center][font size=6]Tampa Policemen & Firemen 4 Alarmer[/font][/center]
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Two years ago, Ted Siedle wrote the Blog article "Red Flags Abound at $1.6 Billion City of Tamp Firefighters and Police Pension". It was written to address the red flags arising due to improper methods of secure protocols. In dealing with retirees monies (such as Social Security and Pension Funds) - we need the most open of books (and looks) - and the most prudent of safety/ diversification practices known to financial brains/ computers as contemporary.

Ted pointed out in his Red Flags article - that;
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Words such as "Management has elected to omit" - when dealing with monies not belonging to them - are FLAMING Red Flags. Imagine if you didn't get your Social Security and/or pension check tomorrow and management stated it didn't have to tell you why the money wasn't coming, when (or if) it would ever come again - or Where it Went.

Properly, Mr. Siedle is crying foul and begging that attention be brought.

As is pointed out by the Forbes story of Siedle, Mr. McDaniels states in his opening "Letter From the Editor" ( I apologize for the wound up format of that link - it's not mine - and it's haughty too much) - as Editor-in-Chief of the Investment magazine, Mr. McDaniels states that;


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Whatever it is - It Ain't Kosher - when national accounting firms are playing merry-go-round concerning audits of a Pension fund of any size. Much less one above $1 Billion.

Both McDaniels and Ted Siedle are in agree that the outing of the worries is THE most important story of their writings. It concerns the future health and welfare of people who put their lives on the line for the safety of its citizens. The last thing they should have to do is deal with "innovation" of their necessary retirement funds that includes a new protocol of

You Don't Need to Know!

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Can you see where this is going, if Mitt Twits and other corporate raiders get a hold of our Social Security?
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I'm just sayin......

[center]BOO![/center]

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February 23, 2015

I'm against Hillary (unless she wins the nom)

But, it is bad form, to help the propaganda machinations of Rove --

as worse.

February 19, 2015

President Obama Honored Selma's Amelia Boynton: A Petition for More!

According to Wikipedia (here) Amelia Platts Boynton Robinson was born on August 18, 1911. Her pedigree in the fight for Civil Rights is only comparable to the other notable greats. As a matter of fact, Amelia Boynton meet, worked with and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King on Bloody Sunday.

There's a 50 year anniversary coming up next month and some of my friends, along with others, are planning to be there. President Obama, who has already given honor to Amelia Boynton, as she was granted permission to attend the 2015 State of the Union Address.

But many of U.S. in America, including dear friends of Amelia, such as Norma Jackson - want just a little bit more.

Please consider signing the PETITION to President Obama, concerning Amelia Platts Bynton Robinson?
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[center] [font size=6]Petitioning President Barack Obama[/font]

[font size=5]{Please}
Nominate Amelia Boynton Robinson
for a Presidential Medal of Freedom[/font][/center]
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It would seem that MoveOn.org had a petition on this issue; but such is now redacted. This particular PETITION that you are being asked to sign for Amelia Boynton, is by Amelia's fellow combatant and friend Norma Jackson's (also a woman of noble pedigree in the Civil Rights movement who wrote a very important public outcry letter to Charles Barkley (on Facebook - HERE)).

Here's just some of the items, as noted upon Wikipedia, concerning the noble works of Amelia Boynton;

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Amelia Boynton helped organize the march

Pictured above, at top, is from the PETITION. This one immediately above, is from the AmeliaBoynton.org website that is also seeking help to restore the historical locations (I've rushed this thread up, but will do more here and post a future thread on the charity work to restore the historical places in Selma).

To protest disenfranchisement of blacks and segregation, Amelia Boyton helped organize a march to the state capital of Montgomery, initiated by James Bevel, which took place on March 7, 1965. Led by John Lewis, Hosea Williams and Bob Mants, and including Rosa Parks and others among the marchers,[6] the event became known as Bloody Sunday when county and state police stopped the march and beat demonstrators after they left the Edmund Pettus Bridge and crossed into the county.[6] Boynton was beaten unconscious; a photograph of her lying on Edmund Pettus Bridge went around the world.[7] Another short march led by Martin Luther King took place two days later; they turned back. With federal protection and thousands of marchers joining them, a third march reached Montgomery on March 24, entering with 25,000 people.[6]

The events of Bloody Sunday galvanized public opinion and contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; Boynton was a guest of honor when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law.

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As Wikipedia further notes;

In 1990 Boynton was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal.



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Amelia's friend and fellow fighter for Civil Rights equality and freedoms, Mrs. Norma Jackson - says in her PETITION;



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Amelia Boynton is 103 years old and still fighting. We can, at the barest of minimums, do a sweet thing for a wonderful person noble. She deserves all this and much, much more. I, for one, am of the hopes and prayers that our POTUS already has a grand design (for when he visits Selma, in March of this year, for the 50th Anniversary.

MEANWHILE....................

[center][font size=5]Please consider signing, endorsing and circulating the[/font]
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[font size=6] PETITION [/font][br]

[font size=5] to President Obama

to have him grant Amelia Boynton Robinson

a Presidential Medal of Freedom[/font]
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February 19, 2015

What a crock. This is the babble we get as News, when RWNJ own stations

And Mitt won CA, MI, OH, VA and FL too...

I think that "news" report was in by noon - on election day.

February 19, 2015

USAG Holder Appears at NPR: Declares 90 Day Deadline on 2008 Mortgage Crisis

Just yesterday, at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., with a few acquaints of yours truly in attendance, United States Attorney General - Eric Holder (pic below from the NY Post article) - profoundly proclaimed a 90 day deadline for cases to be brought forth concerning the 2008 mortgage crisis.
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[font size=5]As per the New York Post article on Holder's remarks

[center] "Eric Holder launches 90-day crusade against bank leaders";[/font][/center]

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If they couldn't bring cases for the last 6 years, it is highly unlikely that they can do so in the last few weeks. Be that as it may, it would be nice to see some butt kicking of the Wall Street fraudsters.

By the way - I'm volunteering an easy case, for his Lordship Eric Holder - to go out with a big wang whoop of Wall Street Fraudsters.

I'm just sayin......

been sayin.......

and sayin......

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February 19, 2015

A Whistleblower's Horror Story: Taibbi Exposes USAG Nominee Lynch Issues

Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi details the horrific ways that the system discourages whistleblower's and the abuses/ostracizing of same. As one of the choir being preached to, I'm in agreement that - to blow the whistle - is to risk wrath of powers that be, and tempting fates.

As noted by Taibbi in his posting today of "A Whistleblower's Horror Story", there are several - RECENT - examples of horrible abuse of those who dare point out injustice.

Verbatim;

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[font size=5]Taibbi Points Out U.S.A.G. Nominee - Loretta Lynch

- Possible Shortcomings[/font][/center]
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Originally I posted this on LBN (here) (forgetting the RULE about NO opinion pieces). In reposting the gist of that thread, into this one, I'll note what was previously remarked upon that;

Matt Taibbi appears to be pointing out that United States Attorney General nominee - Loretta Lynch (pic from Rolling Stone article) - may be in a pinch (or pickle) for letting Wall Street powerhouses and Banks get off with a slap on the wrist.

While I adore the efforts of Mr. Taibbi and his noting the suffering of whistle blowers, I find the effort to worry about what Loretta Lynch will - or will not do - is a waste of banter. Let's just get her in, set the record that the most qualified to do the job is a non-Caucasian woman and give her a chance to prove herself.

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From the comments of the LBN posting, 'djean111' made the following remarks
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1017869



The emphasis in bold (at top) is of the comment title and the emphasis (below) is mine, as 'djean111' first quoted me and then posed the question. My reply is from the thread itself and my comment response.

For more than 6 years now, Eric Holder has provided me nothing to crow about and this is definitely a chance to improve!

What's important is that the right thing be done. Most of U.S. agree (on both sides) Holder lacks

As for Loretta Lynch - she is a lifer in matters of law - and an established prosecutor. Everyone, including Holder and POTUS, have not seen it fit to punish Wall Street. This is important! But the evidence against Loretta Lynch doesn't take into consideration - that she is NOT a free lancer. As United States Attorney, you are required (within your oath and the law) to do what your superiors order you to do.

Let U.S. allow her to BE - THAT - Superior person; and THEN - we can judge her on her actions (or lack thereof).

Remember who I am - and those that I'm fighting;

I'm the last one to go easy on who our USAG should be.

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While I applaud Taibbi's work (most times), I find that he is on the attack of the wrong person in the ranks. We have to get nominee Loretta Lynch in - ASAP. Then we can see what will be.

I'm just sayin.......
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February 19, 2015

A Whistleblower's Horror Story

Source: Rolling Stone by Matt Taibbi

This is the age of the whistleblower. From Chelsea Manning to Edward Snowden to the latest cloak-and-dagger lifter of files, ex-HSBC employee Hervé Falciani, whistleblowers are becoming to this decade what rock stars were to the Sixties — pop culture icons, global countercultural heroes.

But one of America's ugliest secrets is that our own whistleblowers often don't do so well after the headlines fade and cameras recede. The ones who don't end up in jail like Manning, or in exile like Snowden, often still go through years of harassment and financial hardship. And while we wait to see if Loretta Lynch is confirmed as the next Attorney General, it's worth taking a look at how whistleblowers in America fared under the last regime.

He says he's spent over a million dollars fighting Countrywide (and the firm that acquired it, Bank of America) in court. At first, that fight proved a good gamble, as a jury granted him a multi-million-dollar award for retaliation and wrongful termination.

But after Winston won that case, an appellate judge not only wiped out that jury verdict, but allowed Bank of America to counterattack him with a vengeance.



Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/a-whistleblowers-horror-story-20150218

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Matt Taibbi appears to be pointing out that United States Attorney General nominee - Loretta Lynch (pic from Rolling Stone article) - may be in a pinch (or pickle) for letting Wall Street powerhouses and Banks get off with a slap on the wrist.

While I adore the efforts of Mr. Taibbi and his noting the suffering of whistle blowers, I find the effort to worry about what Loretta Lynch will - or will not do - is a waste of banter. Let's just get her in, set the record that the most qualified to do the job is a non-Caucasian woman and give her a chance to prove herself.

For more than 6 years now, Eric Holder has provided me nothing to crow about and this is definitely a chance to improve!