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freshwest
freshwest's Journal
freshwest's Journal
September 23, 2014
Here's the thing about my husband: even in the toughest moments, when it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal. He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise, even if it comes from some of his best supporters. He just keeps moving forward.
And in those moments when we're all sweating it, when we're worried that the bill won't pass or the negotiation will fall through, Barack always reminds me that we're playing a long game here. He reminds me that change is slow — it doesn't happen overnight.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/09/not-good-move-from-clinton-camp.html
Posting this for you:
Michelle Obama's words about her husband.Here's the thing about my husband: even in the toughest moments, when it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal. He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise, even if it comes from some of his best supporters. He just keeps moving forward.
And in those moments when we're all sweating it, when we're worried that the bill won't pass or the negotiation will fall through, Barack always reminds me that we're playing a long game here. He reminds me that change is slow — it doesn't happen overnight.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/09/not-good-move-from-clinton-camp.html
September 23, 2014
The White House - Published Sep 23, 2014
On September 23, 2014, President Obama delivered remarks at the 2014 Climate Summit at the United Nations in New York, New York.
Enjoy, fellow BOGsters.
President Obama Speaks at the 2014 Climate Summit BOG :)
The White House - Published Sep 23, 2014
On September 23, 2014, President Obama delivered remarks at the 2014 Climate Summit at the United Nations in New York, New York.
Enjoy, fellow BOGsters.
September 23, 2014
The White House - Sep 23, 2014
President Obama addressed the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, New York on September 23, 2014.
Good introduction by former President Clinton and Obama explains why we must promote civil societies abroad to defend our own ideals.
Enjoy, fellow BOGsters.
President Obama Delivers Remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative BOG :)
The White House - Sep 23, 2014
President Obama addressed the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, New York on September 23, 2014.
Good introduction by former President Clinton and Obama explains why we must promote civil societies abroad to defend our own ideals.
Enjoy, fellow BOGsters.
September 23, 2014
Some guys have got what it takes, and some don't. Kerry's got it.
Hey, that's surfer stuff! Besides, think how icy that water is!
Some guys have got what it takes, and some don't. Kerry's got it.
September 23, 2014
...No one was fired as a result of the incident, which left the victim traumatized. No criminal charges were filed against school officials or the assailant. In fact, as Gawker reports, an assistant principal who knew of the plan was promoted to principal at a nearby school district despite failing to prevent the incident. The teacher's aide who originally proposed the sting was put on leave and later resigned...
It gets worse, according to CNN: "Vice Principal Dunaway testified that the girl was responsible for herself once she entered the bathroom, according the brief... Federal attorneys say details about the severity of the [boy's previous attacks] are unavailable because school administrators shredded the boy's disciplinary files..."
"It's a sad situation," Principal Ronnie Blair told media in 2010. "At the same time, I feel very comfortable with the way the situation was handled. That's about all I can say."
In other words, despite orchestrating the entire incident and then shredding relevant records after the fact, everyone involved in creating the situation that led to the rape is insisting that it was not their fault but the unidentified victim's. Other than being textbook victim-blaming, the Department of Justice argues that the district's "deliberate indifference to known acts of peer sexual harassment" constitutes a violation of Title IX. Hopefully the district and its callous, irresponsible administrators will be held responsible for their horrific judgement, but the damage they've inflicted on the victim can never be undone...
And more at this link:
http://mic.com/articles/99464/there-are-so-many-things-wrong-with-this-alabama-middle-school-rape-case
A few points:
At 14 years old, she is a minor, legally unable to decide to play bait. Her parents/guardians were not informed of this scheme and it's unlikely they would approve of putting her in danger this way. She was incapable of consent herself.
As a special needs child, she is unlikely to have the maturity of a 14 year old. In fact, many are not considered able to make such decisions even after they reach the age of 18. Dependent on level of disability, some fall under the statues of vulnerable adults and require a guardian for the rest of their lives in order to protect them.
The school is legally responsible as custodian of all students and their safety while on school property, or activities run by the school. Example is if a football player is injured, the school must pay for his care.
Dependent on state, county, city and district, policies vary. Funding for special education is on the chopping block and administrators and state legislators try to cut funds for them in every way. Some school districts resent having to have special needs students, and a number of them, even in wealthy areas, refuse to accept them as students.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as to what happens to special needs students and vulnerable adults. Some police departments scapegoat innocent disabled persons to clear up their case loads. The person does not understand the danger of making or signing statements to please authorities and some have been sent to prison for murders they did not commit when they promised them they could go home if they signed confessions that they could not read.
Special needs kids and vulnerable adults are the least likely to be given fair treatment or to be believed, are often unable to explain what has happened, and the subject of more sexual, financial and physical abuse than almost any other group.
And this is worldwide, except in tiny oasises in which good people seek to protect them.
Yes, but instead, this is what happened:
There Are So Many Things Wrong With This Alabama Middle School Rape Case...No one was fired as a result of the incident, which left the victim traumatized. No criminal charges were filed against school officials or the assailant. In fact, as Gawker reports, an assistant principal who knew of the plan was promoted to principal at a nearby school district despite failing to prevent the incident. The teacher's aide who originally proposed the sting was put on leave and later resigned...
It gets worse, according to CNN: "Vice Principal Dunaway testified that the girl was responsible for herself once she entered the bathroom, according the brief... Federal attorneys say details about the severity of the [boy's previous attacks] are unavailable because school administrators shredded the boy's disciplinary files..."
"It's a sad situation," Principal Ronnie Blair told media in 2010. "At the same time, I feel very comfortable with the way the situation was handled. That's about all I can say."
In other words, despite orchestrating the entire incident and then shredding relevant records after the fact, everyone involved in creating the situation that led to the rape is insisting that it was not their fault but the unidentified victim's. Other than being textbook victim-blaming, the Department of Justice argues that the district's "deliberate indifference to known acts of peer sexual harassment" constitutes a violation of Title IX. Hopefully the district and its callous, irresponsible administrators will be held responsible for their horrific judgement, but the damage they've inflicted on the victim can never be undone...
And more at this link:
http://mic.com/articles/99464/there-are-so-many-things-wrong-with-this-alabama-middle-school-rape-case
A few points:
At 14 years old, she is a minor, legally unable to decide to play bait. Her parents/guardians were not informed of this scheme and it's unlikely they would approve of putting her in danger this way. She was incapable of consent herself.
As a special needs child, she is unlikely to have the maturity of a 14 year old. In fact, many are not considered able to make such decisions even after they reach the age of 18. Dependent on level of disability, some fall under the statues of vulnerable adults and require a guardian for the rest of their lives in order to protect them.
The school is legally responsible as custodian of all students and their safety while on school property, or activities run by the school. Example is if a football player is injured, the school must pay for his care.
Dependent on state, county, city and district, policies vary. Funding for special education is on the chopping block and administrators and state legislators try to cut funds for them in every way. Some school districts resent having to have special needs students, and a number of them, even in wealthy areas, refuse to accept them as students.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as to what happens to special needs students and vulnerable adults. Some police departments scapegoat innocent disabled persons to clear up their case loads. The person does not understand the danger of making or signing statements to please authorities and some have been sent to prison for murders they did not commit when they promised them they could go home if they signed confessions that they could not read.
Special needs kids and vulnerable adults are the least likely to be given fair treatment or to be believed, are often unable to explain what has happened, and the subject of more sexual, financial and physical abuse than almost any other group.
And this is worldwide, except in tiny oasises in which good people seek to protect them.
September 23, 2014
By Lydia Warren, Kieran Corcoran and Wills Robinson - Updated: 22 September 2014
...But relatives have insisted that Gonzalez, from Copperas Cove, Texas, suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after serving three tours in Iraq. He retired after losing part of his foot in an IED blast.
Jerry Murphy, whose mother was married to Gonzalez, said relatives always knew Gonzalez owned a small arsenal of weapons but said they doubted he intended to hurt Obama...
According to agents who arrested him, Gonzalez said that he was desperate to see the President to warn him about 'the atmosphere collapsing...'
His ex-wife said he was very paranoid and began carrying weapons all the time. He was up all night and checking things out. Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
'Omar is a good guy, he's just got some issues that he needs help with. I think this is a cry out for help, what he's done. He really does need help. I just hope he can get it.'
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2765650/Iraq-vet-42-stormed-White-House-800-rounds-ammunition-machete-two-hatchets-stashed-car.html#ixzz3E7CmyW4J
Most comments on that website were sympathetic.
Fence jumper's family paints a sympathetic portrait of him:
Iraq vet, 42, 'who stormed the White House had more than 800 rounds of ammunition, a machete and two hatchets stashed in his car'By Lydia Warren, Kieran Corcoran and Wills Robinson - Updated: 22 September 2014
...But relatives have insisted that Gonzalez, from Copperas Cove, Texas, suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after serving three tours in Iraq. He retired after losing part of his foot in an IED blast.
Jerry Murphy, whose mother was married to Gonzalez, said relatives always knew Gonzalez owned a small arsenal of weapons but said they doubted he intended to hurt Obama...
According to agents who arrested him, Gonzalez said that he was desperate to see the President to warn him about 'the atmosphere collapsing...'
His ex-wife said he was very paranoid and began carrying weapons all the time. He was up all night and checking things out. Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
'Omar is a good guy, he's just got some issues that he needs help with. I think this is a cry out for help, what he's done. He really does need help. I just hope he can get it.'
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2765650/Iraq-vet-42-stormed-White-House-800-rounds-ammunition-machete-two-hatchets-stashed-car.html#ixzz3E7CmyW4J
Most comments on that website were sympathetic.
September 23, 2014
Many are promoting 'Let's go medieval on their ass' again. Not just them.
But yeah, these guys are psychotic, and I really mean that. They are not in 'the now' except to live out their fantasies. It's said they take drugs, too to get them going wild. Other than that, I just see zombie behavior.
September 23, 2014
Nice legs! Still a fox!
They must have seen this pic:
"Secretary of State John Kerry’s kiteboarding adventure in Nantucket – and at 69-years-old, you have to admit, his skills are pretty impressive:"Nice legs! Still a fox!
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