Over on Othor Cain's blog, he is reporting sources tell him Tyrone Lewis is being demoted from Deputy Chief to Sergeant and will no longer head the training academy. http://www.othorcainreport.com/b2/.
Little surprise here as the law clearly stated for parties at the academy gym, there has to be a permit, insurance, payment of fees, and a violation of the law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.
See earlier post: http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2007/12/so-did-tyrone-lewis-break-law.html
Monday, December 31, 2007
Deputy Chief Tyrone Lewis demoted?
Congratulations General Petraeus
Well, look who got the London Telegraph's Person of the Year award: General Petraeus.
The newspaper wrote:
The critics said it couldn't be done, but the vision and determination of General David Petraeus have brought greater security and cause for optimism to the people of Iraq. He is The Sunday Telegraph's Person of the Year...
He has been the man behind the US troop surge over the past 10 months, the last-ditch effort to end Iraq's escalating civil war by putting an extra 28,000 American troops on the ground.
So far, it has achieved what many feared was impossible. Sectarian killings are down. Al-Qaeda is on the run. And the two million Iraqis who fled the country are slowly returning. Progress in Iraq is relative - 538 civilians died last month. But compared with the 3,000 peak of December last year, it offers at least a glimmer of hope...
But the reason for picking Petraeus is simple. Iraq, whatever the current crises in Afghanistan and Pakistan, remains the West's biggest foreign policy challenge of this decade, and if he can halt its slide into all-out anarchy, Gen Petraeus may save more than Iraqi lives.....
Top of the class of 1974 at West Point Military Academy and the holder of a PhD in international relations, he is the co author of the US military's manual on counter-insurgency, a "warrior monk" for whom the messy intrigues of asymmetric warfare hold more interest than the straightforward challenges of 2003's invasion.
Simply being the best and brightest soldier of his generation, however, would not be enough for Iraq in 2007, where a major part of the "surge" involves reconciling Iraq's warring political tribes..... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=Z05I34JUHL3BXQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/12/30/nperson130.xml&page=1
Congratulations General. You more than deserved this award.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Should Al Qaida receive better treatment than the SS?
A furious debate has raged for several years over whether enemy combatants captured in the "War on Terror" (a label I am not crazy about, to say the least) are entitled to the protections afforded by the Geneva Convention. One side argues they are prisoners of war and should be treated as such while the other side argues because they target civilians, eschew uniforms and other protections afforded to those who are actual soldiers, their treatment is not covered by the accords.
Perhaps it is time to look at how we treated another foe on the battlefield just as evil and brutal as the terrorists we face, the SS.
The SS was labeled a criminal organization, not a military force, and its soldiers were all labeled war criminals unless they could prove they were drafted or forced into service (which did occur near the end of the war).
Justice Robert Jackson wrote:
" I asked the War Department to deny those prisoners who are suspected war criminals the privileges which would appertain to their rank if they were merely prisoners of war; to assemble them at convenient and secure locations for interrogation by our staff; to deny them access to the press; and to hold them in the close confinement ordinarily given suspected criminals. The War Department has been subjected to some criticism from the press for these measures, for which it is fair that I should acknowledge responsibility. The most elementary considerations for insuring a fair trial and for the success of our case suggest the imprudence of permitting these prisoners to be interviewed indiscriminately or to use the facilities of the press to convey information to each other and to criminals yet uncaptured. Our choice is between treating them as honorable prisoners of war with the privileges of their ranks, or to classify them as war criminals in which case they should be treated as such. I have assurances from the War Department that those likely to be accused as war criminals will be kept in close confinement and stern control. ...
These hearings, however, must not be regarded in the same light as a trial under our system, where defense is a matter of constitutional right. Fair hearings for the accused are, of course, required to make sure that we punish only the right men and for the right reasons. But the procedure of these hearings may properly bar obstructive and dilatory tactics resorted to by defendants in our ordinary criminal trials..."
The indictment stated:
"The following are named as groups or organizations (since dissolved) which should be declared criminal by reason of their aims and the means used for the accomplishment thereof and in connection with the conviction of such of the named defendants as were members thereof: ..... DIE SCHUTZSTAFFELN DER NATIONALSOZIALISTISCHEN DEUTSCHEN ARBEITERPARTEI (commonly known as the "SS") ......"
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/jackson_on_atrocities.html
It should be noted Justice Jackson would later write the opinion overturning Truman's order to seize the steel industry, showing he was no rubber stamp for the government as well as the one that held students could not be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Having said that, one must ask why Al Qaida, Hezbollah, and other terrorists deserve the protections of the Geneva Convention when the SS, which was an organized military force, was judged to be criminal in nature and thus denied the rights afforded to prisoners of war.
One wonders if these critics would say the same thing if the turbans and masks were exchanged for a Black hat with a death's head insignia on it.
Tonight's Night Flight
Here are some psychodelic cartoons for you. NSFW. I wonder what Marshall Ramsey would come up with if he was in an altered state. This cartoon is a sci-fi cult classic.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
More cluelessness at the JFP
Madame DeLadd at it again:
"Now, it's just tragic with so many lives lost in a losing war in Iraq, and Pakistan and al Qaeda no better than they were." http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=15844_0_27_0_C#103439
Um, yeah. What rock has she been under? We are winning in Iraq and progress has definitely been made. Even the New York Times has said so recently. Al Qaida was run out of Afghanistan. They are reduced to hiding in the mountains, a far cry from when they actually ran the whole country out in the open. How many top leaders of AQ have been killed? How many ops has AQ pulled off in America since 9/11?
please.
Did Tyrone Lewis break the law?
There is more to the story about how Tyrone Lewis allowed his son to use the JPD training facility for profit without paying any fees.
Jackson ordinance No. 2000-29(14), Sections 176-195, (adopted Aug. 22, 2000), spells out the guidelines for what is considered to be a special event and how a permit for one is to be obtained by a sponsor. http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=11036&sid=24
Use of the facilities requires an event sponsor to submit an event application to a special events committee (p. 2). A copy of an insurance policy is required and minimum coverage is prescribed (p.3). There are different classes of permits. If the event has over 500 people, than the fees are
$275 for 3 hours. If under 500 people, then it is $50 for 3 hours.
The law also states "Any person violating any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation of the article."
This is not just a case of Mr. Lewis trying to help his son. This is a case of helping his son avoid paying the city and obtaining permits in violation of the law. The next question is will there be a prosecution for these violations which ARE misdemeanors? Since Mr. Lewis IS the head of the training academy he can not claim ignorance of the law. If HE is not the expert on the law since he is the one in charge of making sure recruits know policies and procedures, then who is?
There is also a provision that exempts events from the permit requirement if they are city-sponsored. If the Lewis's try to claim this exemption, then there is the matter of why the money taken at the door wasn't given to the city? Would that be a felony? For this reason, it is doubtful they will try to claim these parties were sponsored by the city.
The goal of providing young people with a safe venue to have fun is admirable and certainly should be something the city should consider pursuing. However, this sounds more like an end run around the law by someone who knows better to help his son make some money at our expense.
See earlier post at: http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2007/12/should-mac-fire-tyrone-lewis.html
Note: Notice how none of this is mentioned in The Clarion-Ledger. Sigh.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The internet trolls have a meeting (warning: very crude language)
Adult language. If you've been on a few internet forums, this will look very familiar.
Should Mac fire Tyrone Lewis?
The Clarion-Ledger reported today:
Off and on for the past couple of years, the son of the training director who is now a Jackson deputy police chief has thrown disc jockey dance parties for high school and college students in the academy's gym.....
McMillin's primary concern with the dance parties was that neither Terrell Lewis nor his father, Deputy Chief Tyrone Lewis, carries liability insurance. That means if anyone attending one of these parties were to be hurt, the city could be sued for damages.....
The City Council must either contract with whoever wants to use the property or enact a policy that regulates how and under what circumstances public property can be used for private purposes, according to the state auditor's office. Thus, a police department employee can't enter into a contract for use of a police facility....
When questioned about the party on Saturday, Tyrone Lewis said he gave his son permission to use the academy because parents feel safer allowing their children to hang out there as opposed to private clubs. Also, alcohol is not served.
"The liability issue may be something we'll look at in the future," Lewis said.
Lewis said he did not charge his son or any other group to use the academy and screened who used it. However, Lewis could not name any users besides his son who charged people admission or made money off their private functions...
Terrell Lewis said he likes to use the academy because he can get off-duty officers to provide security. He also said the academy's gym is preferable because it is larger than clubs that have charged him $500 to $1,200 to rent their space. A party that draws a good crowd can fetch him several thousand dollars in one night. Lewis, a Jackson State University sophomore, said he uses the money to help pay for college....
Liability also was not an issue for the mayor. He said the city would pay any claim as long as he approved of what kind of private event was being held on the property. However, the City Council must sign off on claims.....
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071227/NEWS/712270365&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
The first question to ask is should Mac fire Tyrone Lewis? This is nothing but nepotism and using city facilities to enrich family members. It's no different than awarding a government contract to a family member. However, this is Mississippi, I forgot. A state where Governor's relatives get fat Katrina contracts. Where attorney generals farm out deals worth millions of dollars in fees to campaign supporters who bribe judges. Where mayors try to get school board members removed who don't award contracts to their campaign supporters. Where a Hinds County Supervisor gets contracts awarded to former family members. Forgive me. I forgot where I was. That is what happens when one gets in a rhetorical rut. You just keep rambling along and forget your place.
However, I will forget where I am for the moment and say Mac should take a long, hard look at firing Lewis. I seriously doubt any regular person could have gotten such a party approved. It's a sweet deal. Use a facility for free and make several thousand dollars in one night. As a police commander and leader of the training academy, Lewis definitely knows better and should lead by example. Think I am being harsh? J. Edgar Hoover fired FBI agents for using FBI cars to take their kids to school. This is nothing short of Mr. Lewis using his privileged position to make money for his family. Period.
What is even more sad is Melton, who is supposed to be a sharp businessman, says liability is no concern and the city would pay any claims. Easy for him to say as it is not HIS money but OURS!!! All it takes is for one kid to get hurt. One fight to break out. One accident to happen. Then Dennis Sweet is filing a nice sized multi-million dollar lawsuit the city has to pay. Not the insurance company, the city. Millions of dollars it does not have. But hey, it's ok because Frank Melton assures us it's ok.
Mac needs to investigate this and if Lewis did allow his son to use the gym to make such large amounts of money, fire Lewis. I can hear it now. "Aw Kingfish, you're being too harsh. I know Tyrone. He's a great guy. He's a good cop." Maybe he is a great guy. I'm sure he is. It's always ok to let things slide when it's people we know. That is one of the problems with this area. It is ALWAYS someone we know and the corruption continues.
Issues in the 3rd Congressional District race.
Last week there was a poll question on this website asking what the most important issues are in the current race to replace Congressman Chip Pickering. The issues listed were: education, gun rights, social security reform, aid to cities, Katrina recovery, immigration, Iraq/terrorism/homeland security, tax cuts/reform, free trade, medicare, abortion, civil rights, agriculture, and ending corporate subsidies. 48 people voted and multiple votes were allowed.
The results are:
Firearms/gun rights: 19
Social security reform: 17
Terrorism/Iraq/Homeland Security: 14
Tax cuts/Tax reform: 9
Education:8
Immigration: 8
Katrina Recovery: 3
Aid to cities: 3
Abortion: 3
Agriculture: 3
Civil rights: 3
Medicare: 2
Ending corporate subsidies: 2
The results were very interesting even after allowing for the fact that polls of this type are very unreliable. Based upon current campaign rhetoric, one would expect illegal immigration to top such a poll. Instead, it tied for fifth and received less than half the votes for gun rights and social security reform. I was somewhat surprised by the number of votes for social security reform as it is an issue that is virtually ignored by most campaigns. Is this an issue that the candidates should address in greater detail?
The issue of terrorism (see earlier post about how this issue has been ignored by most of the campaigns, http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2007/12/3rd-district-candidates-on-terrorism.html ) yet ranked among the top three choices by the participants. Keep this in mind candidates. When talking about keeping the Messicans out and how you share our values, many of us want to know what you are going to do in Washington about protecting us from terrorist attacks. It is surprising that abortion only received 3 votes as that is the issue that tends to draw the most support from single-issue voters (besides gun rights).
More New Orleans craziness
Cop-killer gets released from jail due to paperwork mis-shuffle (is that a word?). You have to read it to believe it. http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2007/12/man_who_fled_to_home_of_da_rel.html
Click Here to Read More..
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Sign of things to come?
Councilman Marshand Crisler is retiring from military service. It seems as though his unit, which is in the Mississippi Air National Guard, received orders to deploy overseas. Although I am not at liberty to say exactly where his unit is going or for how long it will be deployed, it is safe to say it won't be in Iraq or Afghanistan but not at a comfortable base in Europe either. Shortly after his unit received its orders for the deployment, the officer put in his retirement papers. In a few weeks when his unit deploys, he will be stateside.
Interesting. If he intends to seek the office of mayor, a deployment of more than a month or two would seriously hurt his chances of winning the election as his ability to raise money and campaign would be severely limited. Since retiring from the service solves this problem, does this mean Mr. Crisler really is going to run for mayor?
Can Israel win a nuclear war with Iran?
While the jello-writers in the media celebrate the conclusion of the National Intelligence Estimate that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, the Center for International and Strategic Studies, which sponsored the Iraq Study Group the same media feted, published a study on November 19 stating that Israel would "win" a nuclear exchange with Iran (Now why would they be studying this issue if Iran was not pursuing nukes?). The report is available on their website at http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071119_iran.is&nuclearwar.pdf and is more comprehensive than the NIE.
The report makes the following assessments about an Israel-Iran nuclear exchange (p.31):
"Iranian-Israeli Exchange
•Assume mature, dispersed force on both sides. Preemption not an option
•Assume counterpopulation; counterforce and countervalue not an option.
•MAD-like environment; first strike of marginal or no benefit.
•Iranian side:
–Lower fission yields, less accurate forceinto cluster targeting on Israel’s two largest urban complexes.
–Volley strike with all assets. Must seek to saturate or bypass Arrow and Israeli defenses.
–Target to maximize casualties, clear attention to fall out, lasting effects.
–Strike at Haifa and Ashdod-Tel Aviv-Yafoaxis.
–Inflict 200,000 to 800,000 prompt to 21-day dead; long term death rate cannot be calculated.
–Iranian recovery not possible in normal sense of term.
•Israeli side:
–Higher yields, more accurate force allow to strike all major Iranian cities.
–Launch on confirmed warning from Israeli and US satellites.
–Reserve strike capability to ensure no other power can capitalize on Iranian strike; target key Arab neighbors.
–Launch at Syria if struck with CBRN weapons
–Target to maximize casualties, clear attention to fall out, lasting effects.
–Consider "Persian"ethnic strike option; send clear message cannot strike at Israel and survive.
–Inflict 16,000,000 to 28,000,000 prompt to 21-day dead; long term death rate cannot be calculated.
–Israeli recovery theoreticallypossible in population and economic terms."
The synopsis of the report states:
"The analysis indicates that Israeli might have the near to mid-term advantage in such a struggle, at least in terms of the ability to inflict more damage on the Persian ethnic population and economy of Iran. Iran is much larger than Israel, but its population is heavily urbanized and extremely vulnerable to boosted and thermonuclear weapons.
This advantage seems likely to continue until Iran obtained boosted or thermonuclear weapons. The outcome would be so costly to both sides, however, any such advantage would little or no practical value. It is unclear that either nation could reconstitute itself on anything like a prewar basis, if at all." http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_pubs/task,view/id,4172/type,1/
Some may ask, "what about the NIE?" What about the NIE? The NIE two years ago stated that Iran WAS pursueing nuclear weapons. So which is correct as they are completely in opposition to each other, the 2007 or the 2005 NIE? Keep in mind it was the 2002 NIE that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq. That same NIE is trashed by Iraqi War critics who claim it completely false and unreliable. The same critics now praise the NIE as it supports their goals (in an unintended display of the intellectual honesty). This particular think tank is as establishment as one can be as it has former government leaders such as Sam Nunn, Henry Kissinger, Zbignew Brezinkski, William Cohen, and others on its board of trustees.
For additional stories on the report, see:
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2007/me_nuclear_12_20.asp
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3486011,00.html
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847416688&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
The reason why there are no links to mainstream American media sources is because they deemed this news to insignificant to publish. 16 million dead seems not to be worth their time. Now back to who _____ Jamie Spears.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Meaning of Christmas
This is the Christmas message that runs every year in The Wall Street Journal. Enjoy.
"In Hoc Anno Domini
Vermont Royster's annual Christmas message. This editorial was written in 1949 by the late Vermont Royster and has been published annually since.
"When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.
Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.
But everywhere there was something else, too. There was oppression--for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largess to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed. What was a man for but to serve Caesar?
There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage. And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world? Then, of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.
And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of Man into the uttermost ends of the earth.
So the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid, and they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with the leaders.
But it came to pass for a while in divers places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light. The voice said, Haste ye. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.
Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets. Then might it come to pass that men would not look upward to see even a winter's star in the East, and once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.
And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterward in each of the years of his Lord:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Copyright © 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Fannie and Freddie's ticking time bomb?
Fannie Mae recently disclosed that it was suffering from huge losses due to the turmoil in the mortgage markets: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fannie Mae , the largest U.S. mortgage finance company, said on Friday its third-quarter net loss doubled from last year as slumping home prices and a credit squeeze drove down values of mortgage securities. "
Most experts opine that the current crisis in the mortgage markets was due to the turmoil involving subprime and "Alt-A" mortgages as well as a decline in home prices nationwide. Numerous lenders have gone out of business, layoffs in the industry are widespread, and borrowers have found that it is now much tougher to get a mortgage than a year ago as they are required to have higher credit scores and more money for down payments. The specter of subprime ARM readjustments has reared its ugly head as the latest bugaboo to spook Washington and Wall Street. Unfortunately, this may not be the worst of it as there is still another ticking time bomb that has nothing to do with ARM resets or a falling housing market.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made the decision several years ago to lower the requirements approving a mortgage application. Fannie and Freddie mortgages (called conforming) are desirable as they have the lowest rates as compared to mortgages not backed by Fannie and Freddie (called nonconforming. At this point, Fannie and Freddie will be called the agencies.) In the past, a borrower had to put down 3-5% of the purchase price for a down payment, have a minimum credit score of 620, have a debt to income ratio (that is where monthly bills on the credit report, utilities are NOT included, are divided by the gross monthly income) of 36% as well as meeting other requirements.
However, the agencies decided to offer mortgages to borrowers who could not meet those requirements. These mortgages were called expanded approval loans. Credit score requirements were lowered. The agencies started taking credit scores in the 500's. Indeed, if a borrower had enough money to put down on a house (such as 50%), then very bad credit was overlooked. The criteria became more flexible. The minimum credit score was lowered if the borrower had more assets, had a low debt to income ratio, and the loan to value (value of the home) was lower. The agencies offered "flex 100" loans where the borrower did not have to put any money down. The borrower was still required to purchase mortgage insurance, which could be quite high depending on the credit score. The agencies then lowered the credit score requirements. It was not uncommon to see borrowers with credit scores of 590, 600, or lower approved by the agencies for mortgages with no money down. Keep in mind these mortgages are NOT ARMs but are fixed rate mortgages. However, the agencies DID raise the rates on these loans by grading them at certain levels: Expanded Approval I, II, III. Each level had a higher rate. One that was a III usually had a rate that was at least 1.5% above the regular conforming rates so the agencies did try to offset the higher risk with higher rates.
However, the aggressive lending did not stop there as the agencies rolled out their community lending programs in 2003. These weakened the requirements even further. Under the Flex 100's, the borrower still had to have 3% of his own funds for closing costs. Under the community lending standards, that requirement was abolished and replaced with a $500 minimum down payment requirement (It could be a gift from a family member). The mortgage insurance coverage rate was cut from the 35% required for a flex 100 to 20% for a community lending program. The rate was only slightly higher than a regular conforming loan, usually a quarter to a half of a point. The agencies approved these loans for borrowers that had credit scores as low as 570 and in rare instances, even lower. Debt to income ratio requirements were eased as the 100% loan to value mortgages were approved borrowers having ratios of 55%! (remember, that ratio is based off of gross income, not net income after taxes). No one wanted to ruin the party as these new programs became very popular among realtors, lenders, and mortgage companies.
However, this may be a ticking time bomb waiting to explode in the agencies' portfolios as defaults climb. One must ask if the agencies are losing money merely because of falling housing prices and lower levels of business or because of these loans that were approved under much easier underwriting standards. The mortgage insurance companies have quit (or soon plan to do so) insuring mortgages that have a credit score under 620 if the loan to value is more than 95%. This is to be expected as they have suffered huge losses in 2007 and it also tells you where the defaults may be coming from as most of these so-called experts have not realized most subprime mortgages DO NOT require mortgage insurance. Fannie Mae just announced that it is implementing a pricing increase for mortgages that have a credit score below 680 and a loan to value above 95% that will add approximately .500-.750 to the conforming rate. The agencies have also tightened their underwriting requirements (this contributing more to the housing slump) so that borrowers with lower credit scores with
Even with these price increases by the agencies and stricter underwriting guidelines, one must still wonder if they are closing the barn door after the horse has already left as the expanded approval and community lending mortgages sit on their books. If that bomb explodes, it will make the subprime explosion look like a firecracker.