Another Unarmed Teen Shot and Killed by Police

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Saturday August 08, 2015 · 12:02 PM PDT

2015/08/08 · 12:02

This tragedy occurred in Seneca, South Carolina last week, but according to the front page headline in The State newspaper this morning, "Family: Media hasn't publicized incident".
In brief, this article states that Zachary Hammond, a white teenager, pulled up to a drive-through window at a Hardee's restaurant in Seneca. A sting operation was underway, with police suspecting a possible drug deal. The article goes on to say that, within minutes, an officer used his patrol car to block Hammond's vehicle. The article then references the Oconee County coroner's report, which states the officer "felt threatened" as Hammond drove his car toward him. The officer fired two shots through the open window on the driver's side, striking Hammond once in the shoulder and once fatally in the chest.
Why has this event received so little media attention? This article, written by a reporter for the New York Times, states that the reason may be a "lack of video footage". An attorney for the dead teenager suggests it was because it was a "white-on-white" shooting. If we can get a brighter spotlight shone on this apparently needless killing, maybe, just maybe, we'll also get better cooperation from investigators.
More details from the article appear below the fold, some of which, including statements by law enforcement, may sound achingly familiar:

FIDOUGHERTY

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Monday July 20, 2015 · 4:20 PM PDT

2015/07/20 · 16:20

It's true that we just got around to getting rid of the Confederate flag, although we are first of the last to do what needs to be done. But we're doing something far more important than any flag. Seventeen Senators, Republican and Democrat, including some who have been identified as "Tea Party" Republicans, have signed a letter addressed to all Presidential candidates coming to South Carolina campaigning before the state's "First in the South" primary.
Although the letter begins with a request that candidates present their energy proposals, the bulk of the letter focuses on the problems to the State posed by climate change, and asks specifically for clean energy plans. It will be interesting to see how the "Drill Baby Drill!" climate deniers handle this challenge.

I have posted the letter in its entirety below.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Monday July 13, 2015 · 12:05 PM PDT

2015/07/13 · 12:05

Using the word “never” is both dangerous and foolhardy, but there it is---so, if I'm wrong, I will be happy to fall on my sword. Since we can agree that happiness (at least for a Progressive) equates to a Democratic President, Hillary as President would mean she beat the serious nut case who won the Republican primary by stomping on all the other clowns in the clown car. But is that all we need? Is just having a Democratic President enough? And can Hillary defeat a Republican opponent if Democrats don't vote?

Please read below the fold for the thinking behind “never”.

Poll

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Which Democrat would you prefer as President?

497 votes Vote Now!

Which Democrat would you prefer as President?

Hillary Clinton

136 votes

Bernie Sanders

264 votes

Elizabeth Warren

97 votes

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Dummy Dissects the Stock Market.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Friday July 10, 2015 · 4:29 PM PDT

2015/07/10 · 16:29

First, some very necessary disclaimers: Although I have a brokerage account, I am not a stock broker, or a financial analyst, or a CFP (Certified Financial Planner). And, finally, you can be damned sure I'm not being paid to write this post. I'm only a dummy, with just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

Below the fold is some information that your stock broker may have forgotten to tell you.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Tuesday June 02, 2015 · 4:30 PM PDT

2015/06/02 · 16:30

About outing closeted gay Republicans. So here it is:

I have always felt it is a travesty that gay Democrats are up-front about their sexuality, but NO Republicans are. South Carolina had a Lt. Governor (Republican of course) who, according to people who knew him in high school, was openly gay, yet, years later, as a politician, he vehemently denied his gaiety.

We have a Senator in SC, who is running for president in the Republican primary, about whom rumors have floated for years. I don't know if they are true, and I really don't care. What I do care about is the need to lie. If Republicans won't vote for you if you're gay, run as a Democrat. Of course you may have to tweak your platform.

That's my opinion.

The Republican Party: A Potential Sponser of State Terrorism?

FIDOUGHERTY

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Friday April 17, 2015 · 1:20 PM PDT

2015/04/17 · 13:20

Laugh if you will; this headline is not a joke, or a spoof, or a Borowitz headline from New Yorker Magazine. Let me explain: We already know that organized terrorist groups originate almost exclusively in the Middle East and in Africa. We also know that many countries in these regions offer fertile soil for the germination of entities whose goal is not to advocate but to destroy. For such groups to grow and prosper requires a great deal of discontent and hopelessness, as well as high rates of unemployment among specific groups of the citizenry. It's not a coincidence that such countries also share many characteristics, including a weak and/or authoritarian central government in which a wealthy and powerful clique provides whatever governance is available, a caste system (either prescribed, or a shadow system, such as the one we have in this country) for the vast majority of citizens based on race, ethnicity and immigration status, and a small or non-existent "middle class".
To see how the Republican plan for the United (Really?) States fits into this model of governence, please continue below the fold. Read More

Wisconsin and Minnesota: A One-sided Political Competition

FIDOUGHERTY

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Saturday March 07, 2015 · 10:01 AM PST

2015/03/07 · 10:01

The email below just showed up in my account a few minutes ago, although it has been around for a day or two. Rather than chop it up, I thought the best thing to do would be to copy it below and hope the links the writer includes will still work on this copy.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Thursday March 05, 2015 · 2:28 PM PST

2015/03/05 · 14:28

Under the leadership of Chairman Mao, the newly formed People's Republic of China began what they called, "The Great Leap Forward" which resulted in a great leap backward, and the deaths of tens of millions of Chinese, due mostly to famine caused by the government's failure to raise enough food to feed its citizens. Although Chairman Mao faded into the background for a while because of his plan's failure, he returned to power years later, promulgating a "Cultural Revolution" which included the formation of a group called the Red Guards whose mission seemed to be the stamping out of culture and education. Professors, intellectuals and learned people in general were targeted, abused, humiliated, and worse.

It was not until 1981, some five years after Mao's death that the powers that be concluded that the Cultural Revolution was "responsible for the most severe setback and the heaviest losses suffered by the Party, the country, and the people since the founding of the People's Republic."

For what this abbreviated little history lesson has to do with Governor Scott Walker, please look below the fold.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Wednesday February 25, 2015 · 3:25 PM PST

2015/02/25 · 15:25

Bill O'Reilly has always been my best friend. To understand why, look below the racetrack.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Thursday January 08, 2015 · 6:46 PM PST

2015/01/08 · 18:46

This will be a short post: Allow the Republican Party to dismantle Social Security. It's important, of course, to make lots of noise decrying these attempts and making it clear that the Democratic party is totally opposed.
Read below for details.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Sunday December 14, 2014 · 11:17 AM PST

2014/12/14 · 11:17

Disclaimer: This post did not develop from a well-designed research study; there are no tightly controlled variables, no control groups, no rigorous justification. In fact, it's simply some opinionated observations by one Daily Koser whose single qualification consists of having read thousands of posts and countless comments since becoming a member what seems like ages ago.
If you are not turned off by all this, more follows below the race track.

FIDOUGHERTY

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Saturday December 13, 2014 · 12:02 PM PST

2014/12/13 · 12:02

This is the title of the lead article in the January-February, 2015, issue of Mother Jones magazine, available online at motherjones.com. Click on "Must reads": "The Science of Why Cops Shoot Young Black Men". The author, Chris Mooney, points out some of the findings from a large body of experimental research on racism, and I highly recommend you read the entire article, which very nicely puts this issue into perspective. See below the racetrack for a few samples of the research findings.

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Another Unarmed Teen Shot and Killed by Police

South Carolina--Not As Backward As You may Think

Why Hillary Clinton Will Never Be President

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Dummy Dissects the Stock Market.

The Daily Kos asked me to post my Opinion

The Republican Party: A Potential Sponser of State Terrorism?

Wisconsin and Minnesota: A One-sided Political Competition

The Great Leap Forward: Scott Walker's Cultural Revolution

Bill O'Reilly is Still My Best Friend

How to Destroy the Republican Party--legally

The Daily Koser: A Profile

Are You Racist?