The company capitalized on 9/11 by hiring Bernard Kerik. It markets its devices as fun fashion accessories.

And Taser injuries and deaths just keep making news (and blog posts - for a lot more links, go to the Pam's House Blend Taser Files). Most recently,

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials have launched a misconduct investigation of two supervisors who authorized the use of a stun gun on a 21-year-old arrestee because he was unruly and refused to submit to electronic fingerprinting, The Times has learned.

As a result of being shocked with a Taser, Blake Dupree fell off the top of a jail bunk bed and broke his back. The injury has left him temporarily paralyzed and he could be crippled for life, his attorney said.

According to sheriff's officials, Dupree, who showed signs of being mentally ill or under the influence of drugs, had been generally "uncooperative" for hours before a lieutenant at the Lakewood sheriff's station approved the use of the Taser, which delivers a 50,000-volt shock.

The investigation into the Feb. 27 incident -- much of it captured on videotape -- will determine whether use of the Taser violated department policy.

Department rules prohibit using the device on "persons in danger of falling or becoming entangled in machinery or heavy equipment which could result in death or serious bodily injury." Despite the prohibition, the policy does allow for supervisors to decide whether use of a Taser is warranted on a case-by-case basis.

This story is a classic case of how Tasers are routinely misused by police and security departments: The Taser was used not to quell violence or suppress an immediate problem, but to force compliance, and it was used despite the obvious risk of greater damage, in this case from a fall off the bunk bed. In other cases, physically or mentally ill people have been tased when their illness was mistaken for resistance by police unwilling to take time to assess a situation.

According to Amnesty International:

As a human rights organization, AI acknowledges the importance of developing non-lethal or "less-lethal" force options to decrease the risk of death or injury inherent in police use of firearms or other impact weapons such as batons. We support the development of such force options.

However, we have serious concerns about the use of electro-shock devices in law enforcement, both as regards their safety and their potential for misuse. Portable and easy to use, with the capacity to inflict severe pain at the push of a button without leaving substantial marks, electro-shock weapons are particularly open to abuse, as our organization has documented in numerous cases around the world.

While in the United States police operate under professional standards,(8) we are concerned that many U.S. police departments are using Tasers to subdue non-compliant or disturbed individuals who do not pose a serious danger to themselves or others. As our reports have documented, there are many cases where we believe use of Tasers has contravened international standards which require that police use force only when strictly necessary, in proportion to the threat posed, only for as long as the threat exists and in a manner designed to minimize pain or injury. We have documented disturbing instances where we believe that Taser use has amounted to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment which is absolutely prohibited under international law. The U.N. Committee against Torture has called on the United States to deploy Tasers only as a non-lethal alternative to using firearms.

The ACLU has also expressed concern.

In 2006, In These Times gave Taser marketing and use an in-depth look:

In October 2005, the Police Executive Research Forum, an influential police research and advocacy group, recommended that law enforcement only be allowed to use Tasers on people aggressively resisting arrest. The organization also recommended that law enforcement officers needed to step back and evaluate the condition of suspects after they had been shocked once. Similar recommendations were included in an April 2005 report from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. That report also urged police departments to evaluate whether certain vulnerable groups—including the mentally ill—should be excluded altogether from being shot with Tasers.

Although Fogg’s organization has called for an outright ban of Tasers until further research can be conducted, Fogg says that he knows responsible members of law enforcement are perfectly capable of using the weapons effectively. Officers who are willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of the community, he emphasizes, must be given the tools and training to be able to minimize harm to themselves and to others.

Fogg, who also serves on the board of Amnesty International USA, says that too many members of law enforcement seem to be using them as compliance mechanisms. "It’s something along the lines of, ‘If I don’t like you, I can torture you,’ " he says.

A few police departments have instituted strong guidelines for Taser use, which is the point: Finding an alternative to shooting people is a good thing. But even though there's no blood, you still need to be careful, and too many departments are failing miserably at that crucial piece of the puzzle. Meanwhile, Taser International ferociously defends itself against lawsuits claiming they've made inflated claims of Taser safety, and even went on the offense in 2005, suing Gannett Newspapers for libel. (They lost.) At the same time, they've sought to expand their market into private use, with the Taser becoming the new Tupperware.

There need to be strong standards for Taser use - police and security guards cannot be allowed to believe they are justified in tasing someone who makes them merely uncomfortable (especially since we know that means black people, poor people, sick people). Kagro X once said via email that "you'll need to calm down, sir" has become the prelude to tasing. Is that the kind of society you want to live in?

I've been following the "Shag Fund" story for The Right's Field in several stories, here, here and here.  Judging from the media output, today is the day where this story explodes onto the major media - as well as the day where the larger narrative of Giuliani as a serial liar is exposed.

There are a load of media stories about the taxpayer-funded adultery.  And Rudy's campaign clearly can't keep the story straight.  They appear to have settled on the idea that the expenses were reimbursed by the NYPD and there's nothing to see here.  Of course, this is a non-answer.  Unless there's some wealthy benefactor named "NYPD," mayor's office and police department funds are all paid by taxpayers.  It's irrelevant to the main issue: why did Rudy stash these expenses in obscure portions of the budget in the first place?

Sex sure does get a lot of attention, and, in this case, rightfully so, since, as others have so ably reported, Rudolph Giuliani tried to hide fiscal evidence of his tryst with Judi Nathan by billing his security detail and travel expenses to several obscure New York City agencies. We now also know that Giuliani assigned his mistress her own city car and driver at NYC taxpayer expense. All very improper, if not, as yet, proved to be specifically illegal.

But, if we all can take our eyes off of America’s little mayor for a minute, we might see something that is more overtly against the law. . . .

In last night's Republican CNN/YouTube debate, Rudy Giuliani provided Americans with a rare moment of candor about the Bible and himself.  Asked if every word of the Bible was literally true, Giuliani replied that much of it was "allegorical."  Given his repeated distortions, exaggerations and outright falsehoods, Giuliani could have been describing his own campaign.  In the Gospel According to Rudy, the tale of the 9/11 hero fighting terrorist evil isn't literally true, either.

For starters, I must give a hat tip to my good friend, thereisnospoon, for mentioning this frame on our BlogTalkRadio show, "Don’t Hijack My Thread!" when I was talking about how Rudy’s tremendous and consistent showing of bad judgment when it comes to who he aligns himself with and what his major decisions and actions are.

And for anyone who still can overlook his lack of "family values" when it comes to multiple marriages, or his (conflicting) views on a woman’s right to privacy in her personal and medical decisions, surely will at least be a bit disturbed by the fact that Guiliani is closer with the corrupt and indicted Bernard Kerik than he is with his own children.  Whether this kills him in the primary battle or the general election, I think this is a simple and direct reminder of what the "strong on crime former Federal prosecutor" Rudolph Giuliani deems to be important when choosing his relationships.

Former publishing idiot savant Judith Regan is suing the News Corporation for $100,000,000 for smearing her personal reputation in her recent firing at head of ReganBooks division at Harper Collins.  The Harper Collins publishing house is a wholly owned subsidiary of the News Corporation which is wholly owned by the uncontested master blaster of the fake newz: Rupert Murdoch.

Ms. Regan is alleging that an unnamed party or parties at News Corporation offered her hush money to conceal her tryst with Rudy Giuliani’s longtime sidekick Bernie Kerik from Justice Department investigators. When Ms Regan refused the hush money and flipped on Bernie to federal prosecutors, Ms Regan alleges the order to dismiss her came from the top of News Corporation’s food chain. The termination order for Ms Regan may have even been the sultan of schlock newz himself, Rupert Murdoch. Rupert claims to personally authorize the firings of all division heads, so what gives?  Is Rupert involved in offering a hush money payment to Ms. Regan to obstruct justice in an ongoing federal investigation?

Rudy Giuliani's "Kerik problem" just continues to grow and fester.  Book publisher Judith Regan, who carried on a longtime affair with Rudy's close confident, the indicted Bernard Kerik, has claimed in a lawsuit filed today that a senior executive at Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. encouraged her to mislead federal investigators about her relationship with Kerik during his bid to become homeland security secretary in late 2004.  As the New York Times reports, Regan also claims that the News Corporation has "long sought to promote Mr. Giuliani’s ambitions." No surprise for those of us on dkos, but still this is another serious allegation to pile on the growing heap of questions about the company that Rudy chooses to keep, and about his too-cozy relationshop with Rupert.

The news keeps getting worse for the Rupert Murdoch Media Empire.

This was just posted on the New York Times front page about a lawsuit filed by Judith Regan against one of Rupert Murdoch's execs

Ex-Publisher Says News Corp. Official Wanted Her to Lie to Protect Giuliani

Judith Regan, the book publisher who was fired by the News Corporation last year, asserts in a lawsuit filed today that a senior executive at the media conglomerate encouraged her to mislead federal investigators about her relationship with Bernard B. Kerik during his bid to become homeland security secretary in late 2004.

The lawsuit asserts that the News Corporation executive wanted to protect the presidential aspirations of former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Kerik’s mentor, who had appointed him New York City police commissioner and had recommended him for the federal post.

Remember that bit of wingnut hysteria? That Obama was somehow not patriotic because he didn't see the point of claiming to be patriotic via his choice of lapel wear.

Well today, inadvertently, a story on the front page of the New York Times drove a stake through the twitching corpse of that idea...

We already know that Rudy Giuliani won't say whether or not he'll pardon Bernie Kerik. That's an understandable move on Rudy's part. There are plenty of people who think Kerik is a saint and would like to see him pardoned. On the other hand, a pardon would beg the question of whether Mayor Giuliani was involved in any of the things Kerik is alleged to have done, and that's the last thing any presidential candidate wants. So Giuliani has decided to wait and see.

Well, unfortunately for Rudy, Bernie Kerik isn't going to wait for him.

"If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country." -- E. M. Forster

The quote is an example of a kind of loyalty I would rather not see in those who would be our political leaders.  I neither want personal loyalty up to the leader by his or her subordinates, nor by the leader down to protect them.  I think we have experienced the deleterious affects of this far too much during the current administration.  And in a sense some of the bad choices we see made by some Congressional Democrats seem derived from the same "principle" of loyalty.

We have a real opportunity to have a national discussion of this, thanks in part to Bernie Kerik and Rudy Giuliani.   When the editorial page of the New York Times has both an official editorial and a major op ed piece to address the subject, perhaps it is also legitimate for a blogger to also opine, hence I have written this diary.

Former NYPD chief Bernie Kerik's 16-count indictment was unsealed today, as many of you now know.  I have to admit, I was salivating at this prospect.  Why?  It's simple.  If there is one iota of proof that Rudy Giuliani knew or should have known what Kerik was doing, Rudy's presidential campaign is over.

Well, wouldn't you know.  There may be said proof.  According to the NYT's writeup, Giuliani knew about Kerik's involvement with a mobbed-up company ... but the investigation into said involvement was cursory at best.

This will be short and sweet, an funny. I was hoping someone caught it besides me.

How do you describe Kerik as a HERO? Some one at GE must've hit the ultra spin cycle button on the Republican washing machine overriding MSNBC. Sorry Repubs. Some thing can't be washed away.....

"GE, we bring fake shit to life"

Reading Daily Kos is still like getting the newspaper weeks in advance.

We asked back in March whether Rudy, if elected, would pardon his Scooter Libby -- the ludicrously corrupt Bernie Kerik, whom the man who would be president once actually touted for Homeland Security chief.

Today, the NY Daily News catches up to the pace:

Rudy Giuliani won't say if he'd pardon Kerik as President

Rudy Giuliani refused to say if he'd consider pardoning his old friend Bernie Kerik - who was indicted Thursday on federal corruption charges - if elected President.

"It wouldn't be fair to ask that question at this point," the Republican presidential hopeful said in an exclusive interview in Dubuque, Iowa, just hours before Kerik was indicted in New York.

"He may or may not be charged, he may or may not be convicted. Who knows what happens?"

As uncomfortable and hypothetical as the question may be, it's one of many tough queries Giuliani will face as his former police commissioner's case winds its way through the courts amid a white-hot presidential race.

The indictments are due to be unsealed today when Kerik - whom Giuliani pushed in 2004 to be U.S. homeland security czar - is expected to be arraigned.

Giuliani has been accused of no wrongdoing, but it's nonetheless the start of a long perp walk for Kerik filled with politically delicate potholes for the GOP front-runner.

Will Giuliani, who has testified once before a separate Kerik grand jury, be dragged off the campaign trail to testify again at Kerik's expected trial?

Wouldn't be fair to ask? May not be charged? They're unsealing his indictments today. Indictments. Today.

But as far as the prospect of Rudy being pulled off the campaign trail... get serious! This is a federal corruption trial. Of a Republican. You think George W. Bush's Department of "Justice" would actually carry out that "justice," at the expense of the convenience of a Republican candidate?

Still, I can't wait until the media catches up to our questions from June: will Giuliani pardon his child-molesting priest buddy, Alan Paca?

When a guy runs as the heir to the George W. Bush mantle as the King of Corruption, you gotta ask. Maybe he's only in it for the pardons.

Dailykos unites people across America to share collective knowledge about local people.  As a New Yorker I know far more about Bernie Kerik and Rudy Giuliani than the national media is telling you.

Bernie Kerik is Rudy Giuliani's alter ego.  He's Giuliani's best buddy, confidante, enforcer, etc...  Kerik didn't walk and chew gum unless Giuliani told him which foot and what flavor.  The indictments of Kerik might as well be an indictment of Giuliani.  You can bet every last dollar that Giuliani knew and approved of all of Bernie's unlawful behavior and in many instances was a willing co-participant.  You can also bet that if all of Kerik's criminal behavior was exposed, he'd be facing 400+ indictments, not just 4.

Although I don't think this warranted CNN's breathless "Breaking News" music and flashscreen, they did interrupt their regular broadcast to announce the Bernard Kerik, Rudy Giuliani's former Police Commissioner and one-time nominee to head up the US Department of Homeland Security, has been indicted on charges of tax evasion and corruption.

Slightly more after the flip.

dont have much information

here is the link
http://www.wnbc.com/...

Kerik is one of Rudy Giuliani's closest friends and allies.  Rudy nominated Kerik to Bush to be Chief of Homeland Security.

Pat Robertson's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani isn't the only proof today of the kind of person Giuliani is.  Now his best friend is about to be indicted.

Bernard Kerik expects to be indicted by a federal grand jury by next Friday at the latest, two sources close to the investigation tell ABC News.

The sources say Kerik has told his close friends and members of his legal team that he expects the potential indictment to come before the statute of limitations expires on Nov. 15 on charges that could include tax evasion and bribery.

WABC-TV and WNBC-TV in New York both report that an indictment could be unsealed as early as Friday, with an indictment soon to follow.