Monday, December 08, 2008

Lynne Johnson - Palo Alto Police Chief Resigns Amid Accusations of Racial Profiling : Indybay

Palo Alto Police Chief Resigns Amid Accusations of Racial Profiling : Indybay: “On November 20, the City of Palo Alto announced that its controversial police chief will retire on December 19. Chief Lynne Johnson sparked protests and a November 9 march on the city when she stated that she had instructed officers on her force to make "consensual contact" with African American men to counter a crime spike in Palo Alto. 

Her remarks were quoted in news reports worldwide and the topic of racial profiling became a much discussed issue at subsequent city council meetings. Some city officials took the opportunity to acknowledge that racial profiling exists and must be combatted, while others took the stance that the police chief "merely misspoke".

Although the police chief made several attempts at apologizing, many residents of the city and surrounding communities were left wondering why she directed her officers to look for African Americans with do-rags when victims of a 5-month city-wide crime spree had variously described suspects as being of African American, Pacific Islander, Latino or white descent. ”

Yusuf Bey IV - New piece of Chauncey Bailey slaying puzzle surfaces

New piece of Bailey slaying puzzle surfaces: “The leader of Your Black Muslim Bakery expressed satisfaction on the morning Chauncey Bailey was killed, saying the journalist got what he deserved for taking on the troubled organization in his reporting, a bakery member told Oakland police in a recently discovered account given the day after the slaying.

Bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV summoned the woman to watch a TV news story about three hours after Bailey, 57, was gunned down on his way to work on Aug. 2, 2007, she told homicide investigators. As they watched the report on the Oakland Post editor's slaying, Bey told her, "That will teach 'em to f- with me," she said.

The woman worked at the bakery headquarters on San Pablo Avenue in Oakland and stayed in Bey's room there the night before Bailey was killed, she said. The Chronicle obtained a tape of her account and police notes of her interview, but is not naming her at the request of authorities who say her safety could be threatened.”

... More good work by the Chauncey Bailey Project.

Outside Pressure Grows for GM to Oust Wagoner - WSJ.com

Outside Pressure Grows for GM to Oust Wagoner - WSJ.com: “DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner is coming under increasing pressure from outside the company to resign as part of any broad bailout of the auto maker by the federal government.

On Sunday, Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.), a supporter of emergency loans for Detroit, suggested Mr. Wagoner should go if the government follows through and provides billions of dollars to help the auto giant restructure and return to profitability.”

Obama Preserves Political Capital for Stimulus Plan - WSJ.com

Obama Preserves Political Capital for Stimulus Plan - WSJ.com: “WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama's transition team is resisting Bush administration overtures to coordinate more on the financial-sector rescue, convinced that neither the lame-duck President George W. Bush nor the president-elect has the clout to win a smooth congressional release of more bailout funds.

With the first $350 billion of the bailout money nearly allocated, transition aides are pressing Treasury officials to convene a bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill this week. Obama aides say the Treasury needs to sound out congressional leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers on what information they need to release the second, $350 billion tranche from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.”

Barack Obama On Meet The Press - The Activist President-Elect




President-Elect Barack Obama appeared on the last "Meet The Press" hosted by Tom Brokaw who filed-in masterfully to take the place of Tim Russert after Russert's untimely death earlier this year. On the telecast, Obama presented a plan which can be summed-up as the "Activist President." The convergence of economic problems and President Bush's horrible performance has paved the way for an economically aggressive agenda by Obama that's the child of necessity. Even the most conservative economists agree that a large degree of spending must be done to lift the American Economy.

Thus, Obama talked to Brokaw about the need for such a program and then gave a statement that while he has been a critic of the American Car Industry, it's basically too large to allow to fail, so some kind of managed assistance program will be created for it.

Then, in discussing what plans he and First Lady Michelle Obama have for the White House, Obama said that it was "The People's House" and they planned to celebrate American arts and culture in all of its diversity, even mentioning poetry readings. I personally took Obama to mean that poetry slams, or at least one, would be part of this program. That's huge news if it's true and I don't see why it would not be. Poetry slams are an American-borne art form and the new expression of American urban culture. Since it was reportedly created in Chicago around the time Obama lived there, it's logical to believe the Obamas would introduce the White House to the sub-culture, and vice-versa.

What's so exciting is we finally have a President who reflects the diversity of America and not a part of it. Americans have come to think of the Presidency as the harvest for the rich, White staid upper-crust society and have done so without critical thinking. Obama has forced America to rethink how it's presented itself; now we see a country truly by all the people and for all the people emerging.

Barack Obama is committed to restoring the healthy American Middle Class of the 60s, but to do that will require not only a massive economic package but a return to a kind of economic nationalism not seen in two generations. It's time has come, because our G8 and G20 partners have formed economic programs around a nationalist perspective and it's wrecked America's economy.

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens - 2008 14: “BALTIMORE -- If the Washington Redskins are fortunate, it might be another four years before they have to face the Baltimore Ravens again.

Reed set up a touchdown with an interception and scored on a 22-yard fumble return, part of a stifling effort by the Baltimore defense in a 24-10 victory Sunday night.”

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts - 2008 14: “INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden had a perfect read on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Peyton Manning apparently was doing his homework, too.

Manning threw for three scores Sunday and Hayden returned an interception for a touchdown, leading the Colts to their most lopsided win of the season, 35-3.”

NFL Game Center: Post Game - St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals - 2008 Week 14

NFL Game Center: Post Game - St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals - 2008 Week 14 Cardinals clinch the NFC West division with win over the rival Rams.

NFL Game Center: Post Game - Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints - 2008 Week 14

NFL Game Center: Post Game - Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints - 2008 Week 14 Falcons were leading, but lost to N.O.

Pittsburgh's Defense #1 vs Pass and Rush; Super Bowl?

Cowboys have no answer for Steelers' stifling defense

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - 2008 14 Eagles win game, 20 to 14, but Giants get division title anyway.

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans - 2008 14 Titans win AFC South title.