Ahh, a palate cleanser of kitten sorbet.

Oops.. Didn't mean to downmod. WTF+1

I will never forgive you.

Okay, I forgive you.

Ferguson Police Have Long History of Racism, Abuse of Power, Not Giving Fucks.

Before a certain someone starts going off about how great the police are, remember this: This is not a Ferguson problem. This is a national problem. Police brutality and racism are endemic across the country.

"The world didn't just get worse, your eyes just widened."

Counterpoint: police in Charlotte apparently did their job very well.

Black guy shoots two cops and a little girl in the process of trying to beat up his girlfriend, makes it to jail alive, and supposedly the cops didn't fire once. I can't say this is a super feel-good story, but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

He gave himself up after he was surrounded. The officers didn't have a shot. If they had, they would have discharged their weapons.

Yeah, this is feel good to some, but this asshole deserved to die given what he was doing.

Looks like the governor is sending in the National Guard. I wonder who they will decide to protect.

A reasonable question on its face- but at what point do we say 'enough already' to what is likely a small minority of rioters and looters who are effectively hijacking the streets of Ferguson? It's quite possible that the vast majority of people there are ready for some peace and quiet. Hopefully they're the ones the National Guard will protect.

You disrespecting Mike Mike?

Also keep in mind that Gov. Nixon is at least trying to be one of the good guys here. He has unequivocally condemned the Ferguson PD, particularly their release of the alleged robbery video and their attempts to besmirch Michael Brown, and he's spoken out against the militarization of police in general.

I think that the curfew that he signed into effect had the opposite effect of what he was hoping for. It gave the Missouri Highway Patrol (the new cops) a reason to tear gas and shoot people up with rubber bullets. There are some looters, but they're almost without question from East St. Louis, not Ferguson, and some are young white anarchists that are just there to start shit. The citizens of Ferguson are the ones attempting to stop them and protect businesses.

It's really revealing to follow the reporters and press on twitter. It's truly a different world from what the CNNs are reporting, or the FOX newses aren't. I could list a few tweety accounts to follow if anyone's interested.

So the question is, how do you deal with the asshole looters? I'm not saying Gov. Nixon's tactics are correct or effective, but what are his choices in the face of a core of people determined to be jerks?

The police arrested about 7 of them, and they generally number between 10 and 15, according to the locals and the trustworthy journalists (oxymoron, I know) on the ground. Tear gas, smoke bombs, and rubber bullets aren't the answer.

So by that math, the total number of looters is now 3-7? Seems like they shouldn't present much of a challenge.

Should have specified, 2 nights ago the cops arrested about 7. The eyes on the ground said there were about 10-15 troublemakers that night. More probably came down from E. St. Louis last night since the pickins were said to be easy. The cops said the reason they started 2 hours before curfew with the smoke bombs, tear gas, and rubber bullets, was because the command center was attacked. Reporters confirmed that it wasn't.

The young white anarchists are scavengers. Get with the program, man!

"Authorities have said that a struggle ensued after Wilson and Brown crossed paths at 12:01 p.m. August 9, according to the AP. But Dorian Johnson, who was reportedly with Brown at the time of the shooting, has said that Brown had his hands raised in the air when he was fired upon. "
*
Really? How do you get shot four times in the arm when your hands are "raised in the air"? Was the officer that bad a shot? Was he shooting into the air? Or maybe is Dorian Johnson a rank liar?

The "independent" medical examiner said the wounds were consistent with both possibilities. The shot to the top of the head should be the focus, not the arms.

Most cops are taught the "wall of lead" principle. That is when things go pear shaped, you unload as much and as quickly as possible without losing complete control of the firearm.

All of this is irrelevant at this point. The police response after the fact is what is most disturbing about this whole situation.

Really? The police response to rioting and looting disturbs you? Rather than the rioting and looting? What would you have them do? Bring the little dears some flowers?

As for what the wounds are consistent with, does anyone have Baden's actual statement? He's usually a pretty reasonable guy and he's seen a lot of shooting victims.

I don't think anyone is questioning that rioting and looting are things we don't want police to put a stop to.

It's the harassment, intimidation, and arrest of media, the indiscriminate use of tear gas against protesters that haven't rioted, pointing loaded weapons at them, etc.

Perhaps I missed a key bit of footage, but what did the presence of an MRAP do to foster a positive outcome?

Re: The "Wall of Lead."

Hold on. King of the Hill said that wasn't what cops are trained to do. Now you and him have to go fight or something.

Maybe Brown had his hands in the air "like he just don't care". Maybe that's why the officer had to shoot him.

It's certainly possible that Dorian Johnson IS a rank liar. At the very least he seems very disrespectful and rude to the officer who shot his friend 6 times. And he's probably uppity too.

If his hands were in the air, why were four of six shots through the arm. You think the officer set his gun sights a bit high perhaps? Perhaps the officer was on stilts? I'd like to hear your brilliant theory about these facts.

Maybe the officer's hands were in the air too. Maybe he just don't care either. I'm surprised I have to spell these things out for you.