Obama teams up with Philip Morris to crush the rest of the tobacco industry, eliminate safer tobacco products. It’s the regulatory state in action!
The last thing former Rep. Tom “Any Time, Any Matter” Davis needs is the title of “czar.” This would be a pretty horrible selection. Davis is not only no friend of electronic privacy, he’s a power-hungry career politician.
Burger King takes suggestive advertising to a whole new level.
Off-duty Chicago cop caught on video savagely beating a female bartender who refused to serve him sentenced to . . . probation.
Strange story: 16-year-old girl is the size of an infant, has barely aged.
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on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 9:24 am by Radley Balko
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TheAgitator.com
So the only reason we put people in prison is for deterrence?
130 hours of community service? I got more than that for a reckless driving charge.
Ditto Ross…and of course it would never be important to deter this particular guy from doing this again. Especially when we know he did it…twice in one night.
The tobacco story is a prime example of something I had a hard time excepting for a very long time. Corporations hate capitalism and hate the free market. They just want monopoly protection just like the government. That’s why there are so many billionaire socialists in this world like George Soros and co.
Notice the line under the burger king picture? BK super 7 incher. Sorry but…hahahahahaaha! Who’s in charge over there, an eight grader?
deterrence? Maybe, maybe not. What we have instead is encouragement. A setence like this will just encourage more cops to do as they please, terrorizing civilians, knowing that they will never serve a day in jail for their crimes. This is truly terrifying.
The comments about the BK ad are interesting. I find it objectionable when people object to the refusal of others to object to the objectification of women.
I doubt the model will ever have to worry about being the poster child for feminism (unless she comes to the conclusion she was tricked into doing the picture by a male dominated exploitative advertising industry that preys on women, who are apparently too feeble minded to realize how they’re being wantonly victimized, thereby degrading all women everywhere).
One of the nice things about being a guy is that when we do something other men don’t approve of, at least we aren’t accused of bringing disgrace to all men as if we, as a sex, were a political party that demands complete uniformity and unquestioning loyalty. But, even if it were the other way around, I would still do stuff other men don’t approve of. Hell, I might even enjoy it more.
Anarchy.
Government is too fucked to be trusted with defense and justice.
The judge in the Chicago PD stored “noted that Abbate had no prior criminal history.” Is this because he didnt do this sort of thing before, or because no one had dared charge a cop?
Hmm, lets look at the rest of the article.
Beat up 2 other people that night. Check.
Other charges? “Abbate had faced several charges, including intimidation, conspiracy and communicating with a witness and official misconduct. But prosecutors dismissed most of them before the trial began. Fleming dismissed the two counts of official misconduct and found Abbate guilty of aggravated battery.”
I wonder if the “no prior criminal convictions” are in some way related to that fact that he is a big guy, with a badge and a gun, who is unafraid of beating up people, or intimidating them physically or officially.
All screams “new professionalism”
Time for civil trial…………
I would have been more astonished if the judge had given the cop a harsh sentence. Like it or not, cops, prosecutors, and judges all think they’re on the same team. You can’t tell me that they aren’t aware of the potential consequences of failing to protect each other.
Ask that judge and prosecutor how long it’s been since they received a parking ticket or speeding citation.
The bartender’s mistake was simple. She wasn’t one of them.
The hilarious thing is that Chicago cops are yelling “victim” about themselves. Check out this blog written by a Chicago cop…..
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/2009/06/two-years-probation.html
Superb analysis SJE.
I don’t see how it’s sexist at all. To me, it says the woman is in for a *real* treat, far better than what she’d get from some other 7-inch item.
Also – 7 inches? Really?
My daughter has to do 20 hours of community service just to graduate high school. And she didn’t get drunk and beat anyone up. Why is it that the “punishment” for a woman-beating drunk is so similar to “preparing high schoolers for the real world”?
And in related news:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2009/06/18/GWXtaser_officers_resign.html
Bunch of sick fucks.
Dave Krueger “The comments about the BK ad are interesting. I find it objectionable when people object to the refusal of others to object to the objectification of women.”
rofl-brilliant!
Thanks for the link Price, there are some great, great comments on that entry. One of my favorites:
We all know what Abbate did was wrong and he received his punishment. Think of all of the domestics that we/me have been to where some guy beat his girl so bad and the ASA’s would not approve felony charges. You police haters can hate all you want but you could never do what we do and deal with all of the crap that we deal with on an everyday basis. Police haters, go get a real job instead of trying to police the police that you know nothing about!
Awww…..
I’m thinking about this too much, but I can’t for the life of me see a sexist angle on it.
There she is, about to enjoy a fantabulous sensual experience. Any male in the room can do little more than watch and wish he was as lucky as the sandwich.
That, to me, makes the men look pretty pathetic.
So isn’t the ad more feminist?
Is anyone interested in starting a group to lobby for trying cops as adults?
I wonder how many calories are in that 7-incher from BK. Also, it would be much more gross (much more gross??? grosser???) if it had a blob of mayonnaise at the end, much like most pictures of burgers out there.
Did this make anyone else think of the “Prick with a fork” label?
(sorry, don’t know how to post links to make them pretty): http://www.anorak.co.uk/celebrities/213430.html
From Price’s link:
“And any civilians or media types looking to start shit…”
More proof that the cops don’t view themselves of the same lowly class as us “civilians.”
I’m disgusted, but not surprised at the conclusion to the Abbate case. Also, in case folks missed the reporting on the trial itself earlier this month, he did indeed make himself out to be the poor victim:
“Did you feel in danger when she grabbed you from behind, body-slammed you up against the wall and nearly took you to the floor?” asked his lawyer, Peter Hickey.
“Yes,” Abbate said.
“Were you going to stand there and let her hurt you some more?” Hickey asked.
“No,” Abbate replied.
What a brave, brave man. Shouldn’t this have figured into his sentencing? The judge certainly can’t claim Abbate learned his lesson, and realized the error of his ways.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cop-beating-trialjun03,0,4511947.story
I bet Quizno’s is kicking themselves for not thinking of that for their “Torpedo” sandwich campaign. That baby is a solid 12 inches and practically comes with it’s own condom.
The thing won’t even fit in the bag. I’d ask them to cut it in half for me, but I’d feel sympathy pain for it.
Sue that cop for everything hes got. Horrible people should have horrible lives…
#7 Dave,
I’m not sure that’s even a real female. I think it looks like a 3d model. Maybe someone at the advertising company had the same thought as you and decided it’d be safer to use a computer chick instead.
“If I believed that sending Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting other people, I’d sentence him to the maximum,” the judge said. “But I don’t believe that is the case.”
Judge Fleming later that day released 200 pedophiles on the same logic.
Note that Abbate is still a police officer. IPRA has recommended he be fired, and it sounds like he was convicted of a felony, which should disqualify him for the police force, but God only knows what the Police Board will do.
Chicago’s Police Board is often described as the “civilian review” component of the disciplinary system, which sounds good, but it turns out their only power—the only thing they can do in police disciplinary actions—is to either approve, reduce, or eliminate the recommended punishment. In other words, it’s a way for the city political structure to protect officers who have connections.
I think Abbate has disgraced the department too much to survive but…this is Chicago.
But Abbate’s not the real problem. He’s just a drunken lout. Notice there’s been no word in months about the allegations that other officers tried to cover this up and intimidate witnesses with threats of arrest. That’s a criminal conspiracy within the police department.
Regarding that Burger King ad: I am honestly not convinced that’s a real ad or even a real Burger King product. Are people taking that seriously? BTW, it’s not on their online menu, either in the U.S. or the U.K.
BTW, Bronwen, unless the woman’s plans for that sandwich don’t involve using her teeth, I doubt many men would envy it!
…
Regarding the Chicago thug cop: I don’t know how outraged to be at the sentence. One the one hand, I find it totally likely that he got a lighter sentence than a non-cop would have gotten. And, I think that, even drunk, he only did what he did with the LEO mindset that he wouldn’t be found out or there wouldn’t be consequences. And, I feel pretty damn sure that, if there hadn’t been a camera, some lie would have been trumped up (perhaps by his buddies who tried to bribe/threaten the woman into not pressing charges) to make it sound as though his behavior was “inappropriate” or “bad judgment”, but not criminal, despite the fact that it clearly is.
That said, does this guy have a prior record? I ask because I don’t know what the typical assault and battery sentence is for someone with no priors. To me, a sentence with no jail time for that much of a beatdown with that much damage is ridiculous. But, I honestly don’t know how much jail time would be typical. All I am saying is that it’s tough to judge how much of a slap on a the wrist this thug got without some sort of baseline for the crime.
…
I feel sorry for that family with the sixteen-year-old infant. I mean, it looks like they are getting along fine and they clearly love their adorable and unique daughter. But, it has to be a huge burden for a parent to know their child will never grow up and be ready to face the world on her own. They know that she will likely need the care that a baby does, even as she outlives them and maybe outlives her sisters, too…
The scientist in me also wonders if the geneticists who are studying her cells have checked her telomeres? The connection between telomeres and cell senescence is pretty well established. If her cells divide at the normal rate but her telomeres aren’t shortening, then there really is some potential for an anti-aging breakthrough by studying her cell metabolism.
That Second City Cop blog terrifies me. Some of the comments from the boys in blue are downright chilling. I’ve been able to glean the following main points:
1. 2 years is a massive injustice. It should’ve been maximum 1 year, and a $100 fine.
2. That damn illegal polish bartender got what was coming to her. Also, she wasn’t actually hurt by the beating.
3. Chicago needs harsher punishments for those possessing firearms, whether or not they’ve committed any crime besides ownership.
4. Why should Abbate receive any punishment at all, when domestic abuse happens every day, and the abusers get away with it?
5. Anyone upset about the verdict can just shut up, if they know what’s good for them.
Regarding Second City Cop’s blog post, I don’t really have much of a problem with what he said (aside from the “civilian” remark). He’s right that the problem goes far beyond one rogue cop. Also, any time a police officer calls for the firing of another I consider it a small victory. As for the comments, well, I don’t have the energy to subject myself to them this morning.
Lets see what our Chicago community organizer is doing about this
[...] Via. [...]
The woman in the BK ad may not be real, but I suspect she started out real. The fact is that advertising photography is increasingly photoshopped to the point where skin texture disappears and faces look plastic. It’s possible the picture came from a stock house and, depending on the release she signed, the model might not even be aware it was used.
BTW, I don’t photoshop my pictures at all. In fact they don’t even find their way into digital form except to put them on my website. I think digital is a passing fad and I plan to be ready when film makes a comeback. Muahahahahaha! I kill me!
I’d like to beat on the Judge for a few minutes. I don’t want to really hurt him, just give him some bumps and bruises, no real harm done.
@Dave Krueger on digital: sweet. I’m guessing you prefer music on vinyl too? :D
I still wish I could pick up Polaroid film. Some of the best b&w I’ve shot came from a Polaroid Land Camera.
colson,
IDK if you heard or not, but on a related note, Kodachrome has stopped production recently. Kodak said supplies should last until October, so if that’s your thing, stock up.
Agreed.
However, I bet there is some city funded insurance that will pay the cost so that the cop doesn’t have to.
:(
…I bet there is some city funded insurance that will pay the cost…
Yeah, it’s called me and Windypundit and every other taxpayer in the Chicago.
Obama is a lying career politician (I’m aware of the redundancy). He thinks the American people are too stupid to see through his high minded (and dishonest) rhetoric and actually discern what he is doing.
He may be right.
Grrrrrr!!!! To think I used to respect the justice system. I’ll just leave it at that because I’m too angry to post without descending into an obscenity filled rant.
I don’t want to sound like I’m pro law enforcement (far from it), but a few of the comments on the Second City Cop blog made some good points. Specifically, cops get away with this shit because judges and lawmakers allow them to. The bottom line is, if Mayor Daley, members of the city council, and judges actually thought they would get voted out of office for not controlling the police department, they might hold cops accountable.
But as so many of these cops know ( evident from the comments on the blog), these elected assholes are corrupt as shit and law enforcement is told to give them a free pass on everything from speeding tickets to drug possession and more. Getting cops in line means getting local politicians in line first.
Descend! Descend!
;)
@ Mattocracy # 42
I think it is more that the police still have the “hero” halo. Attacking the police tends to marginalize a politician in the eyes of the general public, so the pols are happy to play along with the “boys in blue.”
A cop would have to get caught running a pedophile prostitution ring before his ‘fellow officers’ would turn on him.
Sad. I heard that yesterday. It’s like your old grandfather that you expect to pass away any day, but are still a little stunned when it finally happens. Another little milestone that draws a line between past and future.
I compare shooting film to wood working. People don’t do it just because they like the furniture. They also do it because of the enjoyment they get from working with the tools and handling the materials. I’ll switch to digital when they make it smell like fixer.
Tobacco – does Obama still smoke? If so, what’s his brand?
Actually, I still have quite a library of vinyl, but it’s just what I had before CDs were invented.
I have some Polaroid in my film fridge. I also have one of the little coating thingies, so I can pop it open and take a nostalgic sniff now and then.
Tim C, Obama still “occasionally” smokes, apparently. He is a Marlboro Red man.
Aren’t they all? Isn’t that the problem with politics?
Tiocfaidh ar la!
Left this comment at the cop blog:
“Brave brave you for only letting assenting voices comment. Brave brave you. I guess it’s the spirit of the FBPO who, regardless of your weak excuse for condemnation, did not condemn Abatte. Also: “And any civilians or media types looking to start shit…” really shows that htere is a disconnect from how you view yourselfs as above and apart from the general population – dangerous dangeraous way of thinking.”
I don’t expect it to be published though.
Anyone who doesn’t believe that a police badge is a patent of nobility de facto and de jure needs to get their head out of their ass.
Two years probation and 130 hours CS? And a curfew? This wasn’t a fucking teenager, this was a drunk cop with a gun in a steroid-induced rage who beat up a woman half his size. This is pathetic.
#12 #18
This is why whenever a police levy comes up for a vote during the election I always vote “NO”.
Would you like your BK sandwich with cheese or circumcised?
Isn’t probation the benchmark now for any first-time assault and battery offender?
“Your honor, I cite the case of Abbate. My client deserves probation just like Abbate got.”
Duh.
By Judge Fleming’s logic, all jails (as well as the law) should be dissolved.
And the Boys (and girls) in Blue wonder why the public hates them so much? At least this woman got a trial. There are tons of innocent victims of police brutality who don’t even get that because they’re not white or, as I know from my activist work, sex workers or other sexual “outlaws” who society deems as “less-than-worthy” for justice anyway. Transpeople especially have an extremely difficult time pursuing similar cases of police brutality.
I live in Chicago, so I’m at the mercy of these brutes. I think I need to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights.
#51, teenagers get prison time.
The Chicago cop story is not at all surprising, the only thing surprising is that Daley didn’t show up as a character witness.
200,000 teenagers under 18 are in US prisons, most first time offenders involved with drugs.