sound money

Obama granted clemency to just 22, less than any modern president

"Obama has parceled out forgiveness far more rarely than his recent predecessors, pardoning just 22 individuals while denying 1,019. He has given pardons to roughly 1 of every 50 individuals whose applications were processed by the Justice Department. At this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan had pardoned 1 of every 3 such applicants. George H.W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 16. Bill Clinton had pardoned 1 in 8. George W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 33. Obama also has been stingy with commutations, applications for early release by those still serving federal prison sentences." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama granted clemency to just 22, less than any modern president

POLICING FOR PROFIT: Feds try to take innocent elderly couple’s Mom-and-Pop motel

"Because their property was worth one million dollars and carried no mortgage, and because a handful of drug crimes had taken place on the property over 20 years (which represent less than .05 percent of the 125,000 rooms the Caswells rented over that period of time), the federal government is trying to take the Caswell's property through civil forfeiture, sell the land and keep the money. Under a process known as 'equitable sharing,' the federal government would keep 20 percent of what they net and the local police department would pocket 80 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPOLICING FOR PROFIT: Feds try to take innocent elderly couple’s Mom-and-Pop motel

Never Forget: Leniency is for the Powerful

"Former Idaho State Senator John McGee served 39 days in jail after pleading guilty to a single charge of disturbing the peace. McGee had been accused of repeatedly making obscene propositions to a female employee in his office at the state Capitol. Idaho prisons are filled with common citizens who committed non-violent offenses that injured nobody but themselves. As a member of the political class, McGee committed serious offenses against persons and property and suffered the mildest possible consequences." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNever Forget: Leniency is for the Powerful

Oakland police chief filtered out Occupy e-mail

"People who've e-mailed Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan over the past year about Occupy Oakland probably didn't get much of a response. That's because he used a spam filter to dismiss messages sent to him with 'Occupy Oakland' in the subject line, according to a federal court filing Monday. Same goes for the phrases 'stop the excessive police force,' 'respect the press pass' or 'police brutality.' Because of those filters, Jordan missed e-mails from other city officials and a federal court monitor, who oversees the department's compliance with court-ordered reforms stemming from a police abuse scandal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOakland police chief filtered out Occupy e-mail

Court OKs warrantless use of hidden surveillance cameras

"U.S. District Judge William Griesbach ruled that it was reasonable for Drug Enforcement Administration agents to enter rural property without permission -- and without a warrant -- to install multiple 'covert digital surveillance cameras' in hopes of uncovering evidence that 30 to 40 marijuana plants were being grown. This is the latest case to highlight how advances in technology are causing the legal system to rethink how Americans' privacy rights are protected by law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCourt OKs warrantless use of hidden surveillance cameras

Cop Tasers 10-Year-Old Boy After Refusing To Clean His Patrol Car

"A ten-year-old boy was tasered by a police officer with 50,000 volts of electricity on a school playground after refusing to clean the officer's car. The officer responded to the boy's sarcastic remark by saying, 'Let me show you what happens to people who do not listen to the police.' He then tasered the boy, who weighs less than 100 pounds, in the chest causing him to black out. When the boy came to, instead of calling for emergency medical assistance, he took the boy to the principal's office. The boy, was left with scars resembling cigarette burns and has since been suffering from PTSD, often waking up in the middle of the night grabbing his chest." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop Tasers 10-Year-Old Boy After Refusing To Clean His Patrol Car

Cherokee County teen shot by police sniper, parents speak out

"Lisa and Nick Messina said their son was killed at the hands of the officers they called for help. According to his parents, Andrew Messina had a bad day at school and the pressure was so overwhelming, he grabbed a gun and threatened to kill himself. Lisa Messina called the cops in desperation, hoping an officer would come talk to him. But what arrived was an army of deputies, an armored tank and a sniper. Andrew Messina had begged negotiators several times to speak with his father. 'They brought an army to take out a 16-year-old boy. To kill a 16-year-old boy,' Nick Messina said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCherokee County teen shot by police sniper, parents speak out

Former North Chicago police chief accused of stealing seized drug money

"Former Chief Michael Newsome was accused of using the money to buy a new car and do home repairs on his kitchen, among other personal expenditures, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Scheller said. Newsome, who left office in February amid a public uproar over alleged police brutality within the department, was charged with an ongoing theft of more than $140,000 from April of 2011 through March 31 of this year, Scheller said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer North Chicago police chief accused of stealing seized drug money

Member of U.S. Secret Service arrested for sexual abuse in Woodbridge

"Police say the victim was a 14-year-old girl and was sexually assaulted by her family member between August and October this year. U.S. Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary would not confirm any details about where Cuellar worked or his role. But Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul B. Ebert said that Cuellar has been part of President Obama’s detail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMember of U.S. Secret Service arrested for sexual abuse in Woodbridge

TSA opens museum to inspire its mission

"In 2010, armed with a master's degree in history and experience working at several museums, Smith was hired for the newly created position of TSA historian. Since then he's been filming oral histories of current and past TSA employees, creating exhibits and organizing a growing cache of objects related to the agency's history. In 2011, to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, the TSA gave the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History several artifacts relating to TSA history. Among those items are images, oral histories, internal planning documents, a uniform and other objects relating to the first airport to get TSA screeners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTSA opens museum to inspire its mission