Toronto's Assclown Mayor Rob Ford Defends Justin Bieber

Got to love this, assclown and crack head his honor Rob Ford is defending Justin Bieber's behavior, suggesting that we should put Bieber's actions into perspective by remembering back when we were 19 years old.

Ford's retort to the idea that Bieber was Canada's worst export  "He's a young guy, 19 years old. I wish I was as successful as he was."

To his honor, I've got a lot of friends who remember being 19, somewhere in Fallujah and Al-Anbar province with the 3rd Battalion/1st Marines going door to door and they weren't out clubbing or drag racing in a Lambo, others at 19 where carrying a KA M110 along some exposed ridgeline in Afghanistan just so his fat happy ass could sleep soundly at night.



FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 23, 2008) Staff Sgt. Joe Talbert (center), platoon sergeant for Company L, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines recruited two brothers from Baton Rouge, La. and now serves with them in Iraq. Lance Cpl. Lance Dodson (left), 19, with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and Pfc. Travis Dodson (right), 21, with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines.

We are not talking a dozen or even a couple 100 19 year olds, but thousands like Lance Cpl Lance Dodson and his brother Travis Dodson (above) who put it on the line everyday for weeks on end back when they where 19 so that the likes of Justin Bieber and Rob Ford could stay home burn some weed, drink beer and watch the f-in' Super Bowl.

The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore Owns CofC Punk

Jim Cantore is apparently not real pleased with the media attention he's getting for his quick thinking and super cool response to a College of Charleston punk.

 

TWC's Jim Cantore Repels Attacker With a Classic Well Executed Move

During the live shot, Cantore seems to take the attack in stride and with a apparently good sense of on air humor.

But he's not happy with Charlotte's WBTV for airing an interview with the punk (below) who claim's it is his 15 minutes of fame. He's not happy about the world, posting the clip on YouTube or tweeting about it either.

While the little thug took a knee to the groin for his effort, Cantore kicked it into the bonus round when he tweeted "Hey @wbtv_news by giving the kid his 5 minutes of fame. You've just opened the door for this ridiculous behavior on countless reporters".

Cantore, it seems has a sensitive side and this attack has apparently bruised his ego.

Truth is, this happens time and time again to reporters doing live shots. Honestly I'm surprised Cantore hasn't been the target before. He's nearly as well know as Barbara Walters, in fact I'm hard pressed to think of any weather guy better know expect maybe Mark Mathis.

Cleary TWC doesn't understand that The College of Charleston is the go to school for well off parents to send their kids who couldn't get in to USC or UNC. If you can pay the near Harvard tuition price you'll get accepted.

Next time he comes to Charleston I would suggest The Citadel.

WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

Monday Odds and Ends - Deviation (Eleavation) Church Edition

Another Mall Shooting - 19 year old black kid roams a Columbia Maryland Mall looking for someone to kill. Finally targets two young white employees in a skate board shop. But cops says it wasn't a hate crime. Seriously?

Airport Idiocy - Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CDIA) is asking customers to stop looping around the airport while trying to pick up passengers.

They want you to use the cellphone lot. But the cell phone lots are a nightmare. The parking spaces are crazy tight and impossible to use. Fender benders in the area are a daily happening.

On the plus side CDIA's Cell Phone Parking Lot is at least close to the terminal. Denver and Ft. Lauderdale's Cell Lots are miles away. But other than location CDIA is nightmareish.

Cell Phone Lot "A" is one way in and out with 54 left and right diagonal super narrow parking spaces. Trouble is if you snag a spot next to an SUV or MiniVan your ability to back out is greatly compromised. Then given the over stressed natural of the area, tempers flare and things get out of hand quickly. The lot is normally full in the evenings.

Cell Phone Lot "B" is the overflow location that is basically a square surrounded by chain-link fencing and a lot attendant who either stands there with his hands in his pockets or talking on his cell phone.  The lot is just parking spaces with no traffic flow whatsoever.

The ideal lot is on a dead end street with a right turn enter and drive through parking and right turn exit. The parking spaces are wide enough to handle a Ford 350 super cab. The lot is well lighted and free of tree and brushes that could conceal an attacker. Sidewalks and outdoor seating is a plus.

Elevation Church - Was back in the news on Sunday, but most of it is a re-hash of Stuart Watson's exposé from several weeks ago. The Observer rehash is here.

But the wow moment is Pastor Furtick's rant "Hey Haters!" which he is seething against those who question his operation which the Observer or hackers placed oddly at the bottom of the Observer on line story.

Hey Haters! from inspiredfaith on GodTube.

Cedar's Take: Furtick isn't old enough to remember Jim Bakker's fall from grace. But there is a really large monument to God's failing just across the state line in York County.

I don't hate Furtick I just wish his love of God was greater than his greed and want of money. I just wish that God would have given him wisdom as generously as he has given him charisma.

And maybe it comes down to my grandfather's mantra "With all thy getting, get understanding" Proverbs 4:7 or so I think.

But I can source it here as well:

"With all thy getting, get understanding, is the banner under which these Forbes editorials have appeared since the first issue of the publication. We have no illusions about what great wealth can do and what it cannot do. We believe in the worthwhileness of striving by all worthy means to attain success and to attain wealth. Simply because we are convinced that no amount of money is worth the sacrifice of one’s better instincts, of one’s self-respect-of one’s soul, if you wish-simply because we are convinced that riches not gained legitimately and decently are not worth having...."
-- B.C. Forbes

Bertie Charles Forbes the journalist and founder of Forbes, of course was a Scot and so it goes that CP has a special allegiance to all things that Scots say.

The bigger question is Elevation Church something more than a mega church with poor public relations and serious lack of transparency? Well much of Elevation's operation has cultish hints.

They are a small religious group, not an established denomination.

There is often extreme paranoia within the group; they believe that they are in danger and that they are being closely monitored and heavily persecuted by governments or people outside the group. People on “the outside” are demonized.

They are led by a single male charismatic leader. The leader totally dominates the membership, closely controlling them.

But cult or not, the real trouble with Elevation is three fold. First they are highly visible, second they are grabbing $400,000.00 a week, third their financial operations are a somewhat disconcerting maze of multi holding core related but not related entities. Smoke and mirrors account without any transparency makes them the perfect target for a Federal Investigation ala Jim Bakker and PTL.  

How Did Grand Jury Foreman Linda Muhlbach of Huntersville Lead Grand Jury To A "NO TRUEBILL" Finding?

The answer may not be easy.

But given the facts that are known versus the facts that are spelled out to the Grand Jury it seems pretty clear that the video was enough to put themselves in the position and mindset of Randall Wes Kerrick and seek a reduced charge.

The Grand Jury after hearing and seeing all the evidence presented by only those seeking to prosecute Officer Kerrick chose to pass on the charge of Voluntary Manslaughter.

Think about it for a second, no rebuttal by the defense no opposing evidence or witnesses. The truth is in watching the full video, something the public has been denied.  Apparently law enforcement saw a crime but the grand jury saw past the statues and into the fear and panic the Wes Kerrick felt.

Last year CP posted a video of a 2011 Officer involved shooting that on first look was unjustified. The media and local loud voices condemned the Police Department and the Officer.

But after a long and intensive investigation the Officer was found to have acted within the law.

The blog post is here a little advance warning the video is rather intense.

The You Tube direct link is here.

The parallels are very interesting. The reason I'm comparing the two shoots is that the department took their time and was very open releasing the entire video to the public knowing full well that the condemnation would be immediate.  Where as CMPD hides the truth, and in this case threw the Officer under the bus before really thinking the event through in an effort to head off any public outcry.

Now that the, at least 1st Grand Jury, has rejected the charges this has really fired up the voices and cries of racism.

Those in the black community will automatically jump on the fact that Linda Muhlbach is white and proclaim that as an educated white woman she railroaded and intimated any black jurors present if there were any black jurors in the first place.

Of course all of this is supposed to be conducted in secret. The lid was lifted off the grand jury when the Observer published the late Friday filing seeking to block a second grand jury hearing.

The filing is here:

Cedar's Take: This case has so many political overtones and personal agendas it is hard to comprehend.  

Grand Jury Punts AG's Indictment Request in Officer Randall Kerrick Shooting

From This mornings Charlotte Observer:

In a rare and unexpected move, a grand jury declined to indict Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Randall Kerrick for voluntary manslaughter Tuesday, instead asking prosecutors to submit a lesser charge.

The defense claimed victory. The attorney general said his office planned to bring the charges against Kerrick before the grand jury again because some members of Tuesday’s panel were missing.

The number of absences and whether they had anything to do with the Kerrick case are not known. What is clear is that enough grand jury members felt the evidence presented against Kerrick did not support the manslaughter charge.

And they said so in writing.

“We the Grand Jury respectfully request that the district attorney submit a bill of indictment to a lesser-included or related offense,” the jury’s foreperson said in a hand-written note released by the clerk of court’s office late in the afternoon.

Kerrick was charged in connection with the Sept. 14 shooting death of 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell, who was unarmed at the time. The former Florida A&M football player was struck 10 times.

The rest of the story us here http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/21/4629367/grand-jury-asks-for-lesser-charge.html#.Ut-ZDWtHaSO

N.C. Rep. Rodney Moore, a Charlotte Democrat, said something was “clearly done wrong for an unarmed man to be shot continuously.” He said CMPD needs more diversity training for officers and Kerrick should be held accountable.

The Rev. Kojo Nantambu, president of the Charlotte’s NAACP chapter, called the decision “the most despicable thing I’ve ever seen.”

Chris Chestnut, the attorney for Ferrell described the shooting as “cold-blooded murder” by a “rogue cop.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/21/4629367/grand-jury-asks-for-lesser-charge.html#.Ut-ZDWtHaSO#storylink=cpy

Cedar's Take: From the "get go" the has been about race. Even the Charlotte Observer puts their slant on the story.

North Carolina law allows the use of lethal force by police “only when it appears reasonably necessary ... to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.”

One of the clarifying gauges: Would another “reasonable officer” in the same situation act the same way?

Of the three officers who responded to the 911 call on Sept. 14, only Kerrick, the least experienced, fired his gun.

But CMPD directives and training dictate that this is how it should be done. Kerrick drew his weapon after the other Officers drew their tasers. Tasers are in some cases just as rare and without a doubt the oter Officers felt threatened or they would not have both fired their tasers. When Ferrell did not comply and the taser did not stop him Kerrick felt threatened and advanced the protocol to deadly force. 

Admitedly one shot would have been enough, but in the darkness and confusion adrenalin surging through his body Kerrick had no control of how many times he fired the weapon. 

Fear is a unpredictable factor. I have seen police dash cam videos of Officers in justified shoots where the subject is down the gun is empty and the Officer is still pulling the trigger.

CMPD Officers don't need more diversity training, they just need more training. And so do people who have encounters with police. Stop means stop, and had Ferrell been trained to respect the Police in the first place this would not have happened. 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/21/4629367/grand-jury-asks-for-lesser-charge.html#.Ut-ZDWtHaSO#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/21/4629367/grand-jury-asks-for-lesser-charge.html#.Ut-ZDWtHaSO#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/21/4629367/grand-jury-asks-for-lesser-charge.html#.Ut-ZDWtHaSO#storylink=cpy

Face Book Smack Down Local GOP Infighting

Well here is a sign that the Mecklenburg GOP either needs some new blood or they are totally on the ropes. I don't know how else to explain it other than this sort of infighting is really self-destructive.

At issue is Lynn Wheeler's endorsement of Tervor who is running for a Mecklenburg County Commission at large seat. Wayne Powers takes issue with Wheeler's FaceBook "Like" of Tervor's campaign page. Which wouldn't be a big issue except that it is Lynn Wheeler and she's district 5 Commissioner Matthew Ridenhour's 2014 campaign manager.

Wheeler was once a fixture on Charlotte's City Council until taxpayers said enough and gave her the boot. Since then she's hosted radio shows and been a guest talking head that many people like to hear from. Her public relations firm claims:

"Winning Strategies  ~  Measurable Results"

Well I don't know but I'm pretty doubtful this exchange is much of a winning strategy.

It all starts with Wayne Power calling attention to Wheeler's "like" on his facebook page.

Wayne Powers: Matthew Ridenhour 

I am HUGELY DISAPPOINTED and ABSOLUTELY STUNNED!

Are you aware that your campaign manager, Lynn Murphy Wheeler now "LIKES" Democrat At-Large County Commission Chairman Trevor M. Fuller 's new Facebook campaign page. Seriously???

With "Republicans" like that, no WONDER our taxes keep going up with a Democrat super-majority on County Commission. What a slap in the face to me and the other Republicans who stood with you and ran in the 2012 election. Good grief, Matthew!

(For the record: There's a HUGE difference between "liking" someone's personal page and doing the same on their campaign page.)

https://www.facebook.com/trevormfuller

Nine Minutes Later ...

Lynn Murphy Wheeler: Wayne, i didn't know you were running for County Commission at large again. Matthew told me just last week no Republican that he knew was running. Sorry, i like Trevor Fuller. Whats that to you? It is becoming fun and almost a game to get you stirred up and outraged. It's so easy to push your buttons. And i just liked it five minutes ago. Are you stalking me?

Wayne Powers: Sure, Lynn. I have nothing better to do than "stalk" you.  You're really that important. You responded to the same online invitation I received this morning.  I like Trevor personally - but I'm certainly not going to endorse his campaign page - especially after he raised our taxes.  Sometimes you truly astound me.

Lynn Murphy Wheeler: I know, Wayne.  I LOVE astounding you.  It's so much fun!

Wayne Powers: Well I hope you have just as much fun paying higher taxes and living with the rest of the liberal Democrat agenda being inflicted on Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.  Somehow, it's not so much fun for the rest of us.

Lynn Murphy Wheeler: You're boring me.  I'm done with this thread.

Wayne Powers: Well, perhaps you can find more "entertaining" threads on Kim Ratliff's page.  She raised our taxes, too.

At this point Cedar Posts, tries to inject a little humor

Cedar Posts: Yikes! Reminds me of two seniors waiting in line at Acorn Manor for lunch to be served. I can see the headline now Lynn Wheeler accuses Wayne Powers of stalking!

Then...
 

Tom Davis: Just some clarification.  This is an old political trick to "like" a page then as the election draws near there will be paid FB ads popping up implying all the "likes" denotes ENDORSEMENTs.  It happened recently in the School Board race and many were unaware their names were being used.

Here Wheeler posts another comment and then deletes it. But something to the affect of: Thanks Tom for the clarification.

Then CMS School Board Troll and Republican Rhonda Lennon squeaks up.

Rhonda Garner Lennon: Liking someones page is not an endorsement, nor is retweeting their tweet.  its actually a good way to stay informed about what is going on in their campaign.

Any candidate who would "assume" a like on a page was an endorsement is inaccurate.  Before I listed any endorsements during my recent successful re-election campaign, I called and/or emailed each person whose name I used to verify exactly how I would publicize their endorsement.  I even saved their responses in case someone questioned my list of endorsements-- which of course someone did accuse me of "lying" about my amazing list-- which included Matthew.

If the GOP wants to get people elected at large, worrying about democratic candidate facebook pages is not the way to succeed.  We, the GOP need to recruit great candidates, fund them well, and get their name out to every corner of the county.

Wayne Powers: Rhonda, Wow.  You allow for absolutely no distinction between personal pages and CAMPAIGN pages?  I couldn't disagree more. Campaign pages are all public.  You don't have to "Like" them to read all the posts.  By your logic, we should all like the KKK page "so we can stay informed about what is going on."  "Liking" a campaign page and conveniently thinking it's not seen by others as an endorsement is quite frankly self-delusional.

Then Wayne Powers tries to bury the hatchet with this:

Wayne Powers: You also said you were having "so much fun" and the very next moment you said you were "bored" - so I'm sure, at this point, no one is taking you at your word.  :-D

Okay, enough of the snarky remarks between us.  Seriously, Lynn.  I tried to make the point earlier that there is a HUGE difference between someone's personal page and their campaign page. I would assume that someone who is as politically savvy and experienced as yourself would already know that.  I have many political adversaries whom I like personally and consider friends - but I would NEVER endorse their campaign pages, unless I intended to publicly support and vote for them.  

As someone who dedicated 9 months of my time, talent and treasure (as did two other fellow Republicans) to campaigning for At-Large County Commission AGAINST Trevor last year, I am perplexed and flabbergasted that you would publicly endorse his reelection campaign page.  I can only hope that perhaps you weren't paying close enough attention to realize it was a campaign page and not a personal one.

As for your comment that no Republicans are running - well, the filing deadline has not yet arrived and, as you know, many good candidates often file on the very last day.  

Do you think that perhaps influential Republicans such as yourself publicly "endorsing" Democrats even before the filing deadline might discourage some excellent GOP candidates from running - especially in such an uphill race for any Republican in our Democrat-majority county?  I certainly do. 

That's my point and I believe it's a valid and reasonable one.  Thanks in advance for considering it.  I would sincerely hope you'd agree.

 

Then James Peterson chimes in with:

James Peterson: I agree with Wayne on this one. While Trevor is a nice guy, as a conservative I do not agree with many of his political policies. Additonally, I believe the decision to remove Pat Cotham from the chairman seat was petty and a retribution for her trying to run the county in a non partisan manner.  Even though this is just a social media site, the liking of a campaign page is technically a social endorsement and approval of political actions.

10 hours later the Sun is up and so is Lynn Wheeler:

Lynn Murphy Wheeler: For goodness sakes , can you people just get a grip.

 

Lynn Murphy Wheeler: And all this dialogue began with Wayne Powers noticing I had liked Trevor Fullers page. Really?

 

Wayne Powers: I'm glad we're no longer "boring" you, but yes, really, Lynn Murphy Wheeler - once again, you can't defend your irresponsibly self-serving, duplicitous actions, so you just repeatedly cast aspersions on those who've noticed. A very tired old smoke & mirrors tap-dance ploy but --- sorry, it won't work. The lost "grip" seems to be yours.

 

Lynn Murphy Wheeler: Thank you , Wayne. So I am irresponsible, self serving and duplicitous? Really? Its one thing to think it but to write such vile comments on my wall publicly is not acceptable. I have a rule. If anyone cast nasty vile cruel aspersions about me on my wall, they are unfriended and blocked. I have never ever written anything about you that touches the hatred and vitriol you have just written. Bye, Wayne.

 

Wayne Powers: If you would get over your boredom long enough to read what I actually wrote, you'd discover that my words were about your ACTIONS, Lynn Murphy Wheeler. You refuse to actually discuss the issue preferring to simply insult those who bring it up. 

 

There's a definite pattern here - and today must be a record. It's the THIRD time Lynn has "unfriended" me. Each time, because she cannot defend the indefensible, so she just bails, take her ball and goes home. Illuminating.

 

Wayne Powers: For the record, Lynn has not only "unfriended" me, but she has also "blocked" me so I can no longer see her posts and respond - demonstrating the maturity and leadership skills of an ostrich.

 

Rhonda Garner Lennon: Wayne please stop this now. Just please stop. Take a breath, close your eyes...... it is Sunday morning and time for worship. Certainly not time for this.............

Wayne Powers: To Rhonda Garner Lennon, not that it's relevant or any business of yours, but I've already completed my worship for today. Thank you very much, however, for your spiritual concern. BTW - I hope you'll pass along the same spiritual counsel to your pal Lynn, as she initiated this morning's interactions. Thank you.

Finally Tom Davis again:

Tom Davis: Agree with James Peterson: " Even though this is just a social media site, the liking of a campaign page is technically a social endorsement and approval of political actions." Especially when these names pop up on PAID FB political advertisements 2 weeks before election time. We need to learn from the past and protect such oversights in the future. This goes for both sides to maintain some political integrity.

 

In Case You Missed It - The Cleveland Plain Dealer and The End Of An Era

This Used To Be A Newsroom - By Anna Clark

As a major reorganization of the Cleveland Plain Dealer takes shape, veteran reporters are adjusting to “backpack journalism,” the division of staff into two companies, a looming move to a new office, and demands to post stories more quickly.

At the same time, they are memorializing their old newsroom in striking images that are circulating on social media and in email chains. One such photo was sent to CJR by a former Plain Dealer employee with the subject line, “This used to be a newsroom.”

Cleveland Plain Dealer Newsroom January 2014 Photo Credit: Jon Fobes CPD

 Over the past year, the Cleveland paper has followed much the same plan that owner Advance Publications carved out in New Orleans and elsewhere: it reduced print delivery, shed staff through layoffs and buyouts, and saw the creation of a new, non-unionized digital company under the same corporate umbrella. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and the new company, Northeast Ohio Media Group, are separate entities, but both contribute material to the free website Cleveland.com and to the print newspaper, which saw its newsstand price rise to $1 this week.

 

The changes aren’t just to the org chart. Amid an overhaul of the editorial workspace, the paper’s “newsroom culture is gone,” one Plain Dealer reporter told me. (He, like the other current Plain Dealer staffers in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity.)

Cleveland Plain Dealer Newsroom November 2010 Photo Credit: Bill Ganon

The old Plain Dealer newsroom, at 1801 Superior Ave., is in a building constructed in 1999, during what we can now see as the beginning of the end of an era. A press release at the time said the building would “house about 1,000 employees” across the news and business divisions. A second longtime Plain Dealer reporter described it as “overbuilt” even when it was new; for the last few years, the company leased one floor to a software firm, she said.

After the most recent wave of layoffs, the second reporter said, the staff was so depleted—The Plain Dealer now reportedly has about 95 editorial and production employees—that “it was deemed not worth it to keep us there in the main newsroom.”

Most of the paper’s reporters and editors will soon relocate to the Skylight Office Tower at Tower City Center, a shopping mall/office/transit complex in downtown Cleveland, where they will occupy space above Cleveland’s Hard Rock Café. Meanwhile, the “Pub Hub,” a group of about 30 to 40 designers, editors, and print production staff, will move to the company’s printing and distribution plant in the Cleveland suburbs. And Northeast Ohio Media Group—which has hired new staff in recent months and still has several job openings—will move its employees into renovated space at the Superior Avenue building. (They are currently based in office space in The Flats, a neighborhood along the Cuyahoga River.) The moves are expected to be completed around March.

The original article in its entirety is here:

Cedar's Take: The Plain Dealer had to, as will the Charlotte Observer in short order, downsize. With the hay days of print news behind us the future is not all dark and ominous.

Yet, I still cherish the memory of dashing into the Charlotte Observer building with a roll of Tri-X in hand for the first time. The newsroom looked just as the one above, 100's of people working, the excitement of the afternoon's paper about to go to press and for a fleeting moment I had everyone's attention.

I had 36 photos of a shooting and arrest as it happened just blocks from the Observer Building. While bystanders ducked for cover, the idiot in me charged towards the gunfire. Photos of the shooter and the aftermath, were up close and very personal some so graphic they were not published.  Others so racially charged they too were not printed.  

Four dozen by-lines later I'd take a real job with a salary elsewhere working for John Kilgo and Stan Kaplan but for a short period, the real paper was my home.

In Case You Missed It - Some CDIA Officers Are About To Get The Hook

From Thursday's Charlotte Observer:

About 20 police officers assigned to patrol Charlotte Douglas International Airport will likely lose their status as sworn law enforcement on March 28 and become unarmed security officers, following a years-long dispute over who should control airport police.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department took over airport policing in 2012, over the objections of former aviation director Jerry Orr. City officials said it was necessary to increase security, while Orr said security was fine and the move needlessly increased costs.

Wednesday night, legacy airport police officers were told that if they don’t complete a formal transfer process to CMPD, they will become airport security officers, according to a lawyer representing some of the officers.

The transfer process from airport police to CMPD involves going through the department’s cadet school. About half the roughly 40 officers who were formerly airport police have begun or plan to go through the transfer process, and will not be switched to security officers.

CMPD spokesmen Rob Tufano and Capt. Brian Cunningham did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The issue of who should control airport police has been a festering point in the larger dispute over whether the city or a new, state-run regional commission should run Charlotte Douglas. That dispute is still tied up in court following a legislative battle that stretched through most of last year. For now, the airport remains an independently-funded city department reporting to City Manager Ron Carlee.

The idea of CMPD taking full control of airport police first surfaced after the death of 16-year-old North Mecklenburg High School student Delvonte Tisdale in 2010. He was found dead outside of Boston, under a flight path for approaching planes.

Massachusetts authorities and a CMPD investigation concluded Tisdale had likely breached Charlotte airport security and stowed away inside a jet’s wheel well, falling as the plane lowered its landing gear.

Charlotte City Council decided to transfer control of airport police from Orr to the CMPD. The transfer became official on Dec. 15, 2012.

In August 2013, more than a dozen legacy airport officers sued Charlotte and CMPD over the transfer. They claimed they were being paid as much as $20,000 less than their CMPD counterparts for doing the same job duties. The case is still pending.

The move angered Orr, who called the switch a “debacle” in an internal email. It also led to months of bickering and infighting between airport and police officials over issues such as whether CMPD had enough access to airport security cameras.

The airport said the switch would increase costs, from $2.6 million in fiscal 2012 to an estimated $5.5 million in 2013. That concerned US Airways, the airport’s biggest tenant, according to emails obtained by the Observer.

“A fundamental question that must be answered will be ‘what will be the cost to US?” a US Airways manager wrote in 2012 to Charlotte’s assistant finance director. Charlotte Douglas is one of the lowest-cost airports in the country for airlines to use, and increases to its budget could be borne in part by the airlines through increased user fees.

Under the city’s new airport security plan, sworn CMPD officers would continue to patrol Charlotte Douglas and perform law enforcement functions, such as drug interdiction and arrests. The non-sworn security officers would perform security functions such as door alarm checks.

Under the plan, some could actually see their base salaries increase, according to a person who was present at Wednesday’s meeting. However, as non-law enforcement officers, they would lose the more generous retirement contributions and pension benefits law enforcement officers receive.
 The airport’s security agreement with CMPD has not been formally unveiled. But interim aviation director Brent Cagle said last month that the plan has been tentatively agreed on, and would be implemented in the first quarter this year.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/16/4616983/some-clt-airport-police-officers.html#storylink=cpy

In Case You Missed It Jimmy Fallon Channels Bruce and Chris Christie's Bridgegate

The White House Hijacks The EMS "Star of "Life" To Promote Obama Care

Another example of amateurs at work. Yesterday the Obama administration posted this graphic via twitter. The graphic incorporates the internationally recognized "Star of Life" symbol at the top and in a repeating watermark.

  

The Star of Life symbol is used by EMS Crews worldwide and is not the symbol of the White House or healthcare insurance. 

 

It is doubtful that White House staff even knows what the "Star of Life" represents.

From: Wikipedia:

The six branches of the star are symbols of the six main tasks executed by rescuers all through the emergency chain:

1. Detection: The first rescuers on the scene, usually untrained civilians or those involved in the incident, observe the scene, understand the problem, identify the dangers to themselves and the others, and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety on the scene (environmental, electricity, chemicals, radiation, etc.).
2. Reporting: The call for professional help is made and dispatch is connected with the victims, providing emergency medical dispatch.
3. Response: The first rescuers provide first aid and immediate care to the extent of their capabilities.
4. On scene care: The EMS personnel arrive and provide immediate care to the extent of their capabilities on-scene.
5. Care in Transit: The EMS personnel proceed to transfer the patient to a hospital via an ambulance or helicopter for specialized care. They provide medical care during the transportation.
6. Transfer to Definitive care: Appropriate specialized care is provided at the hospital.

Medic Nearly Kills A Family of Four In South Charlotte

Medic responding to a call, nearly caused what would have been a fatal accident early Sunday evening.

It all happened too fast to note the unit number, but the truck was east bound on Pineville Matthews Road attempting to turn left on to Carmel Road at approximately 5:48 p.m. on Sunday.

I saw the unit's lights approaching the Carmel Commons Shopping Center from the west, working through traffic just inside Johnston Road.

Then the lights disappeared, only to have the truck enter the intersection with siren only seconds later, nearly T-boning a woman in a silver mini van. 

Since it was nearly 6 p.m. with still enough daylight to see, the crew apparently didn't notice their lights and strobes were off.

The truck swerved hard to the left then right to miss the mini van, unloading their air horn on the clearly startled van driver, before roaring away north bound on Carmel.

Not sure if it was operator error or system failure, but this was the second time in a month, I've witnessed an emergency vehicle in Charlotte responding to a call with siren only.

Several months ago I watched Engine 24 roll out of their station on Pineville Matthews Road without their lights. While most the traffic had stopped one west bound SUV had to lock up the binders at the last second.

If this keeps up someone is going to get killed. 

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Obama To Visit North Carolina Next Week

By now you have heard the President is coming to North Carolina next Wednesday.

 

According to a White House press release, Obama will travel to Raleigh on Wednesday for an event on the economy. The will be his warm up for the January 28, State of the Union address.:

"Obama's expected to unveil an ambitious agenda at his State of the Union that includes income inequality, raising the minimum wage, and immigration. He's also expected to try and refocus the healthcare debate, which has dogged him over the last several months due to its disastrous roll out.

"Last year, a day after delivering a State of the Union focused on jobs and middle-class opportunities, Obama visited an Asheville, N.C. auto plant where he touted the country's ability to create manufacturing job."

Now I'm sure have noticed that President Obama's approval rating has pretty much tanked.

Even the libtards don't trust the guy. 

No surprise, since the only thing Obama has accomplished, and this will be his legacy is Obama Care. 

Trouble is those of us who already have health insurance, have had it for a long time and while it may not be perfect it is our insurance. 

The rest fall into three groups those who for whatever reason don't want insurance, those who are in desperate need of insurance but can't afford it, and those who think Obama Care is nirvana. 

It's that first group who are going to cause the train wreck that derails Obama Care. They are the fit, the young, the healthy and they are a part of a cash subculture. They are illegal immigrants, construction trades, bar tenders, wait staff, hookers and drug dealers, golf course hustlers and professional thieves. They are small business owners, and ethnic groups like the Greeks and Jews who hit the "no sale" button on the cash register and report only the credit card sales at the end of the day.

The second group account for the major underestimated costs of Obama Care. They are the sick, the unemployable, the elderly and the disabled. This group has been without insurance and quality medical care for decades, yet they have done without and until now have been a burden only to themselves and their families.

 

That last group are a very small percentage of the population. They already have free medical care and the shift to Obama Care is just another form from social services or the DSS, which explains why Obama Care and Mr. Obama are not real high on our that's cool list. 

Washington does not understand the reality of American life, the fact is most Americans are not far left or far right, the majority are the right down the middle, leave me the fuck alone hard working middle class. We don't want a hand out and we don't want to fill out another damn form.

We don't want free stuff and damn sure don't want to pay for someone else's free stuff. Which is why Obama Care will eventually collapse.

 

Come Wednesday the President will try to move on from Obama Care. Now he wants to play Abe Lincoln to the LGBT Community. Lincoln freed the salves, and so Obama is going to free the Fags. Fine with me I really don't care.

 

He'll also press to make all the illegals - legal and raise the hourly wages of entry level workers.

 

But if he wants to do something that would benefit the working class he should follow up on my list.

 

1. Freeze the gas prices at $2.99 for regular across the nation with index adjustments annually.

2. Require all cell phone manufactures to use one single size mini usb port for charging and data.

3. Make Super Bowl Monday a national holiday.

4. Provide for a death penalty for hackers, scammers, and spammers.

5. Regulate Airfares so that it isn't cheaper to fly coast to coast than from DC to Boston.

I'm just saying.

CMPD Major Jeff Estes On Administrative Leave?

Word on the street this morning is that CMPD Major Jeff Estes, had to turn in his gun, badge and take home car because he failed to complete the state mandated law enforcement training required to keep his Law Enforcement Certificate.



Major Estes and CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe during the 2012 DNC Photo Credit WFAE

 

Cedar's Take: Estes certianly has the training to be a police officer, but screw ups like this plague the department. Hot money says there are others who are having to sit on the sidelines this week.

Dr. Amy Chua Pens a New Self Help Book "The Triple Package"

Yale Law professor and self-proclaimed "Tiger Mom" Amy Chua is releasing a new book – The Triple Package, in which she argues that certain cultural groups, such as Jews and Mormons, produce more successful people than others, and gives her reasons why.

In her pervious best seller, a memoir titled Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, she argued that strict Chinese parenting was superior and produced very successful children. In the book she explained that she would not accept grades less than an A from her two daughters, allowed no sleepovers or school plays, and made them practice piano for hours with no breaks, among other things.

In her new book she cites the eight groups who are produce more successful people than others: Jews, Indian, Chinese, Iranian, Lebanese-Americans, Nigerians, Cuban exiles and Mormons.

Chua gives three reasons (The Triple Package) why these groups do better: superiority complex, insecurity, and impulse control – which she defines as the ability to resist temptation, especially the temptation to give up in the face of hardship or quit instead of persevering at a difficult task.

Cedar's Take: I'd add a fourth reason, they all live in the United States of America.