CLibertyC

Rand Paul’s Misplaced Celebration

"Neither Bush nor Obama have ever claimed the authority to assassinate innocent Americans. The authority they have always claimed has been to assassinate guilty Americans (and guilty foreigners)—that is, those people who are guilty of being terrorists. Well, guess who decides whether a person is a terrorist. You got it! The president makes that determination. And once he decides that a person is a terrorist in his global 'war on terrorism,' that’s the end of the discussion. Under our post-9/11 system of government, neither the president nor the military nor the CIA is required to explain, justify, or even acknowledge the assassination." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul’s Misplaced Celebration

McCain calls Paul, Cruz, Amash ‘wacko birds’ after CIA director filibuster

"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is continuing to criticize his fellow Republicans for their filibuster of incoming CIA Director John O. Brennan over drone policy. In an interview with the Huffington Post, McCain referred to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) as 'wackos.' McCain and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) took strong exception to the filibuster, saying they support the possible use of drones to prevent terrorist attacks anywhere in the world. Some Republicans have privately worried that the high-profile stand, while garnering a lot of positive attention, will ultimately be bad for the party." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMcCain calls Paul, Cruz, Amash ‘wacko birds’ after CIA director filibuster

Massachusetts cops reinstated with back pay after testing positive for cocaine

"Officers Ronnie Jones, George Downing, Shawn Harris, Richard Beckers, Jacqueline McGowan and Walter Washington each had very different explanations as to why there might have been cocaine detected in their hair follicles, yet all were summarily fired in the last decade. The board’s ruling reinstates them to their jobs with back pay dating to October 2010. Reasons for the presence of cocaine given by officers included a recent prescription of lidocaine, living near a crackhead, keeping drug evidence in the same pocket as food and accidental physical contact after mistaking the drug for powder from a doughnut." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMassachusetts cops reinstated with back pay after testing positive for cocaine

Milwaukee police officer convicted of stealing money while responding to burglary

"A Milwaukee police officer has been fired after his conviction for stealing cash from a convenience store where he had responded to investigate a burglary. According to the criminal complaint, the owner of Hopkins Food Mart at N. 46th St. and Hopkins Ave. had reported a burglary, and Howell came to take a report. The owner showed Howell a drawer with cash that was not taken during the burglary, and Howell later went back to the drawer and took some of the money. His actions were recorded on store surveillance video. Upon his arrest, Howell admitted taking about $200 and said he did so because he was behind on his rent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMilwaukee police officer convicted of stealing money while responding to burglary

Charges Dropped Against Innocent Man: Video Evidence Shows Officers Planted Drugs On Him

"A man who claims a police officer planted drugs on him will have the charges dismissed one day before his case was set to go to trial. But the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office said the dismissal has nothing to do with a surveillance video Alphonzo Eleby said proves the officer set him up. His attorney said surveillance video from the location shows the officer call the officer guarding Eleby over to the SUV he had been searching. As she searches the vehicle, Zenobia Waters said the video shows the officer circle back to her client and toss marijuana next to him. She said the officer then picks the drugs up and repositions them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharges Dropped Against Innocent Man: Video Evidence Shows Officers Planted Drugs On Him

Judge: Bozeman police intentionally erased audio in excessive force case

"A judge has found Bozeman police intentionally erased a portion of an audio recording made during a welfare check on a man who claims officers used excessive force against him. Soheil Jesse Verdi claims the officers caused him to fall and injure his skull when they used a stun gun against him in 2007. One of the officers was wearing a microphone. Attorneys for Verdi said there is a missing audio segment. U.S. District Judge Richard Anderson agreed with Verdi in a ruling last month the segment was intentionally erased." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge: Bozeman police intentionally erased audio in excessive force case

Ohio, Maryland Courts Address Speed Camera Due Process Concerns

"A Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas judge put a stop to it on Thursday with a permanent injunction prohibiting photo radar contractor Optotraffic from issuing $105 photo tickets in the village of Elmwood Place. In Baltimore County, Maryland last month, a circuit court judge ruled that the county has been violating state law by paying Xerox a bounty for every ticket the private company drops in the mail. Judge Susan Souder ruled local jurisdictions cannot evade the ban on contingent fees simply by claiming that Xerox and other firms do not 'operate' the cameras." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOhio, Maryland Courts Address Speed Camera Due Process Concerns

President Obama and his secret executive friends

"'Secret friends' is essentially the arrangement that the president has kept with several corporate executives. Clearly, the president likes them: they include American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault and Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, as well as, on a more fitful basis, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon and General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt. But before the executives even have time to source Washington DC real estate, their names are taken out of the running. The administration rejects being associated with them, in favor of long-serving veterans who are already in the White House cool kids' club." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPresident Obama and his secret executive friends