Good morning!

So…there is lots of chitchat in the news about Health Care Reform. Today is the opening day, the first of three days of hearings on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare.  Will the Supreme Court, strike it down? I certainly HOPE not and think not, but when it comes to politics one can never be sure of what the outcome might be, especially when we know the Supreme Court is bought and paid for.

Here’s a short write I found on Maddow’s blog on this very subject:

Associated Press

The Supreme Court this morning will kick off the first of three days of hearings on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, and interest in the case is as strong as anything we’ve seen in many years. For those who watch the high court closely, however, there’s a striking lack of intrigue about the outcome.

National Journal surveyed former Supreme Court clerks and lawyers who have argued cases before the high court about the health care law, and the consensus was that the Affordable Care is likely to prevail. One respondent said, “I don’t think this case will be nearly as close a case as conventional wisdom now has it. I think the Court will uphold the statute by a lopsided majority.”

That’s not at all an unusual predication. On the contrary, despite the polls and ongoing political fights surrounding “Obamacare,” most legal insiders, even on the right, find it unlikely the Supreme Court will ignore precedent and strike down the law.

But the justices have proven to be unpredictable at times. Jon Chait had a good item the other day on setting expectations.

The legal case against the Affordable Care Act is completely absurd. You can make the argument sound kind of plausible,  but if you’re a law-talking guy, you can selectively cull through precedents and pile assumptions onto each other just so in order to reach pretty much any conclusion you want. That’s pretty much what the legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act would do. As a straightforward interpretation of constitutional precedent, it’s just silly.

Legal analysts are not dismissing the case completely, but that’s only because they don’t dismiss the possibility that five Republican-appointed justices will leap at a chance to advance the partisan agenda of their choosing. Jack Balkin, in an article suggesting it’s highly unlikely the law will be found unconstitutional, searches through history and can only find one example of the Court making a ruling so radical and lacking in constitutional basis.

The example was an 1895 case in which the court struck down the federal income tax, with overzealous conservative justices responding to a far-right panic about an imaginary “socialist” threat.

In other words, the Obama administration, congressional Democrats, health care advocates, working families, the uninsured, and Americans who occasionally rely on the American health care system have nothing to worry about, just so long as five conservative justices resist the urge to get caught up in a larger ideological crusade.

Hmm.

Common sense suggests the outcome at the Supreme Court is a no-brainer – of course the court majority will rule in favor of the law. If the justices stick to precedent, it won’t even be close — they’d have to take a truly radical approach to the law to conclude otherwise. But since the Roberts Court is quite capable of radicalism, predictions should probably be taken with a grain of salt.

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Watch it LIVE here:

Readers: Not sure common sense thinking will prevail when STARK is in control. Can we expect something radical? I certainly HOPE not. Those that oppose are certainly praying for it though – One can imagine what’s going on inside the minds of these “praying conservatives” – they try to “pray away the gay”; why not try and “pray away affordable health care for everyone”.

Thoughts? Blog me.

Peace, Love, & Obamacare

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

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Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

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Good morning!

I haven’t written about my four-legged friends in awhile so I thought today I would give them some blog time. I have heard of military dogs but I was not sure what positions they held, nor what duties they perform. Then I came across this article that I couldn’t resist posting. Dogs have always been considered  our “best friends”.  And it is no different at times of war. Our soldiers fighting for our country, are our heros. But so are our four-legged friends who join them.

Here’s a sweet little write that gives kudos to our friends who stand by to watch and guard, putting their lives on the line…through rain and bullets to protect those protecting us.

Adorable War Dogs and Their Stories (PHOTOS)

Military working dogs and their handlers can be together 24/7 while deployed. More often than not, the canine warriors eat and work and socialize with their handlers. They sleep in or near their handlers’ cots. Some dogs crawl right into their sleeping bags. And on long missions, they can try to catch some winks together in foxholes.

A handler’s life is in his dog’s nose, and dog’s life in his handler’s hands. The bond is deep, utterly indescribable, most handlers will tell you.

“You know this dog so well, and he knows you. The dog probably knows you better than your spouse does,” says Marine Sergeant Mark Vierig.

Master Chief Scott Thompson, the NCO in charge of dog operations in Afghanistan for a year, agrees. “The bond will pull you through the toughest situations,” he says. “I don’t think there’s anything else in the world that can compare to the bond between a handler and dog.”

My new book, Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America’s Canine Heroes [Penguin Group, $26.95], opens up the world of military working dogs as never before, shedding new light on every aspect of the military dog world, including these incomparable bonds

Here are some photos dogs in the book, with heartwarming vignettes about their relationships with their handlers.

Military working dog Lex L479 and his handler, Marine Sgt. Mark Vierig, would go to sleep in the foxholes they shared for a month while on patrol in Afghanistan during the cold, wet winter. Soon after Vierig fell asleep, the Belgian Malinois would crawl out from their tarp-protected foxhole and stand guard over him through the night – often in torrential rains. The dog did not sit, but stood, head erect, large triangular ears at attention and focused for sounds, eyes peering into the darkness for any sign of intrusion. His coat was soaked with rain, but he stood riveted, noble. “I’d tell him, ‘Hey you, come on in here!’ ” and he’d leave his post and go to his subterranean room – at least until Vierig fell asleep again.

Nothing fazed Patrick L722. During one firefight, Patrick lay beside his handler, Marine Cpl. Charles “Cody” Haliscak, in the tall grass as Haliscak and the rest of the squad engaged the Taliban. But the Belgian Malinois wasn’t lying there cowering. He was lying there eating grass as the bullets screamed by. One day this loyal, calm dog alerted Halisack to an improvised explosive device (IED), saving the lives of the troops who were following him. Tragically, the IED exploded under him. “I lost my best friend. He was my hero,” says Haliscak.

The formidable-looking German shepherd, Rex L274, stands guard as his soldiers take a lunch break in their Stryker vehicle. He looked the role of fearsome warrior, but Rex was actually a gentle giant. The specialized search dog did not make it as a patrol dog because he was a sweet, sensitive fellow. “If you were playing and you acted as if he bit you, he’d let go and look all sad,” Ingraham says. But she knew he would put his life on the line to protect her.

Lars J274 gets laughs wherever he shows up as a bomb-sniffing military working dog. “Fear the terriers!” a sailor cries as the little Jack Russell terrier and his handler approach a nuclear submarine Lars will check for explosives. Lars, who has a Napoleon complex, doesn’t seem to notice the lighthearted atmosphere he creates in his wake. His handler, Navy MA3 Cameron Frost, has learned to roll with the jokes. Lars is not the dog he imagined being partnered with when he became a Navy dog handler, “but he grows on you.”

Robby D131 was Air Force Staff Sgt. James Bailey’s first military working dog. Robby, however, was a veteran of three deployments, and Bailey says Robby taught him the ropes when they deployed to Iraq. Together in war, now together in peace, the two retired from the military and are enjoying life together in a leafy Virginia suburb. “It’s great to be able to give back to him and try to repay the life-long sacrifice he has given to me, his other handlers, and the country,” says Bailey.

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Readers: Now I am off to take my sweet Lucy for a walk. I can’t tell you how happy I am it’s Friday. Flap your lips…blog me.

xo

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

It is women like this that need to have their heads examined. State Rep. Terri Proud (R-Tucson), and no doubt proud to be a republican, made a statement that she thinks “women should be required to watch an abortion before they receive the procedure“. Are you kidding me? First we have to fight off a Personhood bill, requiring the use of trans-vaginal ultrasound prior to a woman obtaining an abortion. And now Proud wants us to watch an abortion before we decide to have one. Let’s just make a movie – Pass the popcorn please – what’s next?

Seriously, how about requiring us to watch a tubal ligation before a we decide we don’t want babies anymore. Why not? How about before any procedure that has anything to do with our vaginas or abortions, we are required to watch it first? How about banning birth control and making it a requirement for each woman to have at least one baby? I’m serious because that is where this is leading. And if anyone thinks I’m crazy, just look at what we’ve been debating lately when it comes to women’s health, and our right to make our own decisions.

Terri Proud, Arizona State Representative, Explains Abortion Email

A Republican lawmaker in Arizona said Tuesday that she thinks abortion providers are dishonest with women about the procedure and that is why she emailed a constituent that she would like to require women to watch an abortion before having one.

State Rep. Terri Proud (R-Tucson) said in a statement Tuesday that “the abortion industry” has been “selling abortions” and that she would like to look at the health and safety of women. The statement responds to an email Proud sent to a constituent, saying that women should be required to watch an abortion before they receive the procedure.

“For too long, Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry have placed selling abortions above the health and safety of women,” Proud said in the statement, sent by her office from her state email account. “My message to a constituent last week emphasized my concerns with how abortion providers have not been honest with women about the realities of abortion, and the short and long-term risks of this dangerous surgical procedure.”

Proud — who described herself as a “pro-life legislator” — reiterated her support for several bills that have passed in Arizona, including a 24-hour waiting period before receiving an abortion and requiring a woman to receive an ultrasound before receiving an abortion. She said both laws are “steps in the right direction for our state.”

“I’m thankful to be a part of a state legislature that has taken bold action in recent years to protect women and preborn children,” Proud said in the statement.

Proud did not directly address the abortion-watching email, or the bill that provoked the email, which would make abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy illegal in Arizona.

Proud’s original email was published Monday afternoon on a political blog on theArizona Republic‘s website and called for the abortion-watching provision. The email answered a constituent who had emailed Proud to urge her to vote against the bill. The email was sent from Proud’s state account and was unedited.

“Personally I’d like to make a law that mandates a woman watch an abortion being performed prior to having a “surgical procedure”. If it’s not a life it shouldn’t matter, if it doesn’t harm a woman then she shouldn’t care, and don’t we want more transparency and education in the medical profession anyway? We demand it everywhere else.

Until the dead child can tell me that she/he does not feel any pain — I have no intentions of clearing the conscience of the living – I will be voting YES.”

The email immediately touched off a firestorm from Arizona Democrats, with Rep. Matt Heinz (D-Tucson) describing the email as a “hodgepodge of crazy.” Heinz, a physician, said the email showed that Proud did not realize that there are laws to prevent audiences at surgical procedures.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell (D-Phoenix), who had described the email “going off the deep end,” said it could be Proud — one of Arizona’s more conservative legislators — showing a liberal side.

“Talk about big government, that’s the epitome of big government,” Campbell said Tuesday to HuffPost. “This is getting out of hand.”

*********

Readers: This is getting out of hand to say the least.

You want to know what I think? I think Proud needs to be anal probed to see if her brains are in her ass, because the things that come out of this woman’s mouth is just unbelievable. And I have good reason to believe they’re down there because all I experience up there is air. And that goes for many republican women out there who support such insane ideas under the guise of “protecting” women. This isn’t about “protecting” women; this is about controlling women…this is saying that women don’t have a mind of their own to make the right decision for themselves, and their bodies.

We don’t need women like this, not supporting women, but tossing us back in time with no rights. Just when will women stop joining men in controlling women’s bodies? It isn’t in our best interest – but they’re too dumb to realize that.

And I can almost hear some of you men out there snickering in pleasure. There’s a reason why “man” is part of the word “mandate”. Hey, I’ve got an idea (don’t go crazy mad on me now  Al :) Don’t you think that before a woman decides to go out on a date with a man she should watch his performance in bed….with close-ups? This would certainly “protect” a woman from disappointment. Now that would be a movie worth watching with popcorn.

Thoughts? Blog me. 

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning,

Like so many others who continue to write about Trayvon Martin…and like many others who are demanding justice for this young boy, I too support the family and friends, by giving this very important story more blog time. It is through the internet…through community etc., that we voice our outrage and continue to support so that justice is served and peace comes to this family.

SANFORD, Fla. – Spurred by social media and community rallies, the shooting death of a 17-year-old Florida youth has become the latest flashpoint over how young black men are perceived in the United States.

Trayvon Martin‘s death Feb. 26 at the hands of a Neighborhood Watch leader in this small, gated Florida community has rippled through many corners of the nation’s justice and political system and raised questions about the relationship between the black community and police in small towns.

Trayvon Martin was talking on his cell phone when he was shot and killed in February.

•Ignited protests, including a “Million Hoodie March” in New York City planned today, a protest Wednesday outside the Florida Division of Licensing, urging state officials to withdraw George Zimmerman’s concealed weapons permit and a rally Thursday in Sanford led by civil rights activist Al Sharpton;

•Amassed more than 600,000 signatures in an online petition calling for charges to be filed against George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch captain who said he shot Martin.

•Prompted NAACP national President Benjamin Todd Jealous and local NAACP officials to host an open forum Wednesday in Sanford for residents to share their stories of abuse and discrimination by the Sanford Police Department. Jealous said Tuesday night that the information provided would be turned over to theDepartment of Justice, which is investigating the Martin shooting.

Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

Orange County Jail via Miami Herald via AP

The case has resonated for many who say Martin died because of stereotypes of young black men as violent criminals. The shooting is already being compared with high-profile and historic civil rights cases — for instance, a doctored photograph has circulated throughout many social media sites that compares Martin to Emmett Till, a young man lynched by white men in 1950s Mississippi.

“It’s not about these individual acts of racism,” said Mark Neal, a professor of African and African American Studies at Duke University. “It’s about the way that black males are framed in the larger culture … as being violent, criminal and threats to safety and property.”

The tragic case played out in Sanford, population 54,000, about 30 minutes north of Orlando, when Martin left his father’s home to buy candy and iced tea for his little brother at a nearby 7-Eleven.

He was on his way back in the rain when Zimmerman, 28, spotted him. Zimmerman was armed as he patroled the area in his car in response to several break-ins in the community.

Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious person, according to the call released by Sanford emergency dispatch. Against the advice of the 911 dispatcher, Zimmerman followed Martin, according to the 911 recording.

The two men fought and Trayvon Martin was left dead. Zimmerman told the Sanford police that he shot the teen in self-defense because he was fearful for his life. The police have said there is no evidence to contradict Zimmerman’s claims. Police say Zimmerman was bleeding from his nose and the back of his head.

By Mark Wallheiser, Getty Images

Tallahassee criminal defense attorney Devron Brown, left, speaks with Florida Gov. Rick Scott regarding the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. The FBI opened an investigation into the death of Martin, and the local state attorney announced that he had asked a grand jury to investigate.

Zimmerman has not spoken publicly. In a statement, his father, Robert, said, “The portrayal of George Zimmerman in the media, as well as the series of events that led to the tragic shooting are false and extremely misleading. … George is a Spanish-speaking minority with many black family members and friends. He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever.”

Outrage in Sanford

The fatal shooting touched a chord of community outrage in Sanford on Tuesday night. The killing was “a senseless murder as far as we are concerned,” Seminole County NAACP President Clayton Turner told a capacity crowd at the start of a town-hall-style meeting at Allen Chapel AME Church.

Clayton said the Sanford city manager and mayor were unable to attend because they had been “summoned” to Washington by Attorney General Eric Holder.

“The line has been drawn in the sand,” Clayton said. “We as people of color are going to stand our ground. We are going to do it in a non-violent way, and we are going to prevail.”

Before his son’s death, Tracy Martin warned son Trayvon that being a black man in America could be dangerous.

“I’ve always let him know we as African Americans get stereotyped,” Tracy Martin told USA TODAY. “I told him that society is cruel.”

Those warning messages have echoed in Tracy Martin’s head since his son died.

Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said Tuesday that the young man was on the phone with his girlfriend when Zimmerman followed and approached him. He said the 16-year-old girl told a harrowing story that he says shows Martin did not attack Zimmerman.

The girl, whose family asked the attorney not to reveal her identity, told Crump that she and Martin were talking on the phone when he left the store, a bag of Skittles in his pocket. Crump said as Martin walked home, he told the girl, “This dude is following me.”

Crump said the girl told him that she told Martin to run. Martin ran, which coincided with Zimmerman’s comments to 911 in which he said the suspicious man was running, Crump said.

“Then she hears (Martin) say, ‘Why are you following me?’ and another voice say, ‘What are you doing in the neighborhood?’ ” Crump said.

Police actions questioned

The girl told Crump she then thought she could hear Trayvon was pushed and she heard a brief altercation, then the line went dead.

“This claim that Trayvon Martin was the aggressor is preposterous,” the attorney said.

Crump has questioned Sanford police actions after the shooting, noting that police did not run a blood-alcohol test or a background check on Zimmerman, but they ran both on Martin after he died. He said police took Zimmerman’s word without conducting a thorough investigation.

Tracy Martin says he wants Zimmerman arrested and tried in court.

“My child was profiled,” the father said. “He was stereotyped. We aren’t letting our son die in vain.”

The decision not to arrest Zimmerman was made by the responding officer who released the gunman after he claimed to have acted in self-defense, Sanford officials said Tuesday.

It was only after a growing public outcry expressing a lack of confidence in the police department’s actions that city leaders called on the Justice Department to review the shooting, City Manager Norton Bonaparte and Mayor Jeff Triplett said.

“We have a lot of strife in our community right now,” Triplett said at a Capitol Hill briefing where he and Bonaparte appeared with Rep. Corrine Brown, a Florida Democrat. “If we’ve made an error, I want someone to tell me. There will be no stone that won’t be overturned.”

Triplett said the Justice investigation would review all aspects of the case, including the police response and the decision not to arrest Zimmerman.

Bonaparte acknowledged Zimmerman was part of a network of local Neighborhood Watch groups trained by the Sanford Police Department and urged “not to engage” possible suspects or people they encounter. Brown said she was “not satisfied” with the initial handling of the case, agreeing that Zimmerman was not tested for possible substance abuse immediately after the incident and lamenting that proper steps were not taken to preserve possible evidence at the scene.

“People need to feel that the system is fair,” Brown said. “It just wasn’t handled right.”

In conversations with the Sanford police chief, Triplett said he believes the Florida law known as the “stand your ground” statute, which provides a broader interpretation of self-defense, played a role in the decision not to arrest and charge Zimmerman.

The law allows the use of force if the person “reasonably believes” it is necessary to protect the person’s own life, or the life of another or to prevent a forcible felony.

In the wake of Martin’s death, the law is getting a second look. State Sen. Oscar Braynon, who represents Miami Gardens where the teen lived with his mother, called for hearings or a select committee to clarify what constitutes self-defense under the law. He said that since the law was enacted in 2005, the number of justified homicides in the state has skyrocketed. In 2005, there were 43 such cases; in 2009, the last complete year available, there were 105, Braynon said.

“I think there is vigilante justice happening and I think people are getting shot,” he said. “This is an unintended consequence of the law.”

Social media’s role

Public activism has played a pivotal role in bringing national attention to the case and ultimately leading to a top-to-bottom review of what happened that day. A wellspring of social media grew by the day and became relentless, demanding that the spotlight return to Sanford. It’s the only way to galvanize people in such cases, says Neal, the Duke professor.

“If folks aren’t on Twitter tweeting stories and giving particular testimonies; if you don’t have artists doing videos on YouTube talking about what Trayvon might have experienced … I don’t think we get a moment where suddenly the Justice Department is saying we need to investigate this case,” Neal says.

Change.org spokeswoman Brianna Cayo Cotter said the petition calling for prosecution of Zimmerman was drawing the second-highest amount of traffic to the site since a petition was launched for Kyleigh’s Law, a measure passed in New Jersey in 2010 that requires drivers younger than 18 with permits or probationary licenses to display special decals on their vehicles. Kyleigh D’Alessio was 16 when she died in a 2006 car crash.

“We are seeing unprecedented traffic on our website,” Cayo Cotter said.

The attention is also focusing on the town of Sanford, which has a history of racial tensions.

“This case more than anything reminds me of Jena — of a small Southern town that played by its own rules,” Sharpton said. “Sanford authorities thought they could contain it. … Once it becomes national, they can’t contain and control the story and the outcome.”

The Jena 6 were black teens initially charged in 2006 with attempted murder for beating a white schoolmate in the town of Jena, La. After a national outcry, community rallies and online petitions, the charges were reduced.

Theo Shaw, 23, one of the Jena 6 who is preparing to attend law school in the fall, says, “This is another incident in which there is a presumption that a young black man has been guilty of something.”

Contributing: Melanie Eversley in New York; Kevin Johnson in Washington; Carolyn Pesce in McLean, Va.; Associated Press

********

Dhakiyh: Thank you for the clarification. I understand and I will respond accordingly. I HOPE you and yours are well.

Readers: Thats it for me…I’m off doing my day…blog me.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

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All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

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I always like to start my blog write with a “Good morning”. Some days it feels strange when I am writing about the atrocities that happen in our world, yet I say it anyway.  I don’t know what it is about today’s story, but today it just doesn’t feel appropriate, to say “Good morning” in a big red happy font.

My thoughts are with the family of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed on February 26th. And yet his killer, George Zimmerman, has not been arrested. The outrage from the public has made this story the headliner across the country.  And now the most recent news: The 911 tapes were just released late Friday. Just reading about the tapes and listening to Martin scream for his life just makes me ill to the point of tears. Once again, “just us” justice is in play.

911 tapes in Trayvon Martin shooting released

Calls made to police show that a black teenager was terrified as he tried to get away from the white neighborhood watch volunteer who shot him, and that the volunteer was not defending himself as he has claimed, the teen’s family told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Sanford police released eight 911 calls late Friday. The neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, tells a dispatcher in the first call that he is following 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. He says Martin is running, but the dispatcher tells him not to follow the teen.

“How can you claim self-defense and you are the aggressor?” Tracy Martin, Trayvon Martin’s father, told the AP on Saturday.

Zimmerman had called police to report a suspicious person walking through the gated community. He has said he shot the teen in self-defense. Zimmerman’s father said in a letter to the Orlando Sentinel that his son, who is Hispanic, has been cruelly and unfairly portrayed in the media as a racist.

The teen had gone to a convenience store to buy candy and was walking back to his family’s home in the neighborhood.

“This guy looks like he is up to no good. He is on drugs or something,” Zimmerman told the dispatcher from his SUV. He added that the black teen had his hand in his waistband and was walking around looking at homes.

“These a——-. They always get away,” Zimmerman said on a 911 call.

He has said he acted in self-defense, but Martin’s family said they are now more convinced than ever that Zimmerman should be charged in the shooting. Several of the 911 calls made by neighbors describe some sort of scuffle or fight outside, someone yelling for help and a gunshot.

“(Zimmerman) was chasing him, he was following him, and my son was afraid,” Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, told the AP. “He didn’t know who this stranger was.”

Tracy Martin said the calls paint a stark picture of what were his son’s final moments.

“He was yelling for help, and no one could help him. He saw his life being taken away from him,” Tracy Martin said.

The case has been turned over to the State Attorney’s Office, which can decide whether to file charges or present evidence to a grand jury.

Trayvon Martin’s family said they will continue pushing for charges to be filed against Zimmerman.

“We’re hoping this doesn’t happen again to another family, and that America opens their eyes … even though this won’t bring Trayvon back, we don’t want there to be another Trayvon,” Tracy Martin said.

Moments after Zimmerman’s first call, dispatchers were bombarded by seven 911 calls from frantic neighbors describing a fight between two men, screaming and then a gunshot.

“There is somebody screaming outside,” one female caller said, as an unknown male voice can be heard crying in the background. Then a shot is heard.

A male caller described a physical altercation between Martin and the shooter.

“I just heard a shot right behind my house,” The caller said. “They’re wrestling right behind my porch. The guy is yelling ‘Help.’ I’m not going outside.”

Earlier Friday, Martin’s parents called on the FBI to take over the investigation, saying they no longer trusted the Sanford police department.

Sanford police Sgt. David Morgenstern said the department stands by its investigation but welcomes help from any outside agency. FBI agent David Couvertier said the agency has been in contact with Sanford police and is monitoring the case.

“We are committed to having somebody review this to see if we made a mistake,” said Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett. “If we made missteps and there is something there, we will act accordingly.”

Several Sanford residents who spoke to The Associated Press Friday said they think there would have been an arrest already if the shooter had been black and the deceased had been white. They said blacks and whites in this city of 53,000 residents were pretty much in agreement that an injustice had been done with no one arrested, and that there was no racial divide in how the case is being perceived. The city is 57 percent white and 30 percent black. It has a median household income of almost $42,000.

“It’s just about … to be able to take somebody’s life in 2012 and not even go to jail for it, that is just sad. No matter, for any color. Not just black or white. Any color,” Ladonna Williams, 38, who is black, said as she shopped at the Seminole Towne Center shopping mall, more than a mile from where the shooting took place.

In the letter to the Sentinel, Zimmerman’s father says his son has received death threats and moved out of his home. George Zimmerman is Hispanic and grew up in a multiracial family, the statement says.

“He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever …,” the letter says. “The media portrayal of George as a racist could not be further from the truth.”

********

Readers: If you want to support the family in helping to prosecute Martin’s killer, please sign the petition that the family started through Change.org. Thank you. Anything else? Say what you will. Blog me.

Peace & Love…

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"