General Political Thread

[uncool2pillow]

In the eyes of that particular jury, in our court system, yes. 

See, that's just it, even the jury may think he's guilty.  The don't find people innocent.  All we know for sure is that they felt the evidence left a reasonable doubt of his guilt.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Fortunately, it looks like the DOJ is stepping in. Hope that ends up with him doing some time.

 

[uncool2pillow]

They will not be able to prove race was a motive.  Parents filing a wrongful death suit is the only chance of the courts holding Zimmerman accountable..

[Mr. Heartbreak]

You are probably right. Just glad to see headlines noting that this thing is far from over. It was so galling to see Mr. Flat Affect with a big cheesy grin after being found "not guilty." If the pressure on him continues, he may just gain another 400 lbs. and explode like the girl in Willie Wonka.

[Hixter]

1) He got out of the car to identify which street he was on.  This was in his neighborhood.  If you believe this, then I can't imagine you really have an open mind to both points of view. 

I know the names of exactly 3 streets in my neighborhood. There are streets a hundred yards away that I don't know the names of and that I've never driven or walked.

 

I think the only way he knew the gun was there is if Zimmerman told him in an effort to get the upper hand in the fight they were having

If you're familiar with the waistband type of holster Zimmerman wore, then you know that the entire grip and much of the pistol's frame extends above the waistband. His jacket covered it and he says that the pistol was revealed when his jacket was pulled up during the fight and ensuing struggle.

 

If there is clear cut evidence of innocence the charges would most likely be dropped before a trial.

Or maybe charges wouldn't be filed until more than 6 weeks after the shooting? And then, only because of strong political pressure that reached all the way to the White House?

[uncool2pillow]

I know the names of exactly 3 streets in my neighborhood. There are streets a hundred yards away that I don't know the names of and that I've never driven or walked.

Then you're a pretty shitty neighborhood watch volunteer.

[LouieB]

I know the names of exactly 3 streets in my neighborhood. There are streets a hundred yards away that I don't know the names of and that I've never driven or walked.

 

 

There are days I just don't know what to believe about what you say.  In an earlier post you said your neighbors are like your family and that you give out your alarm code, etc.  Now you don't even seem to know your neighborhood? 

 

Hey whatever!!!!

 

LouieB

[lost highway]

Street name?  Smart phone.

 

We need to take a pistol out of that holster and put a 3g phone in there.  No death, problem solved.

[Hixter]

There are days I just don't know what to believe about what you say.  In an earlier post you said your neighbors are like your family and that you give out your alarm code, etc.  Now you don't even seem to know your neighborhood? 

 

Hey whatever!!!!

Everything I've said is true; I'm not a liar. 

 

With one exception*, all of my friends/neighbors live on my street and one street over. We party together, dine together and vacation together. Our social group is densely packed into the 2 streets and includes almost every resident of those streets. It's an incredible gathering of great people. Several residents are former renters who loved the neighborhood so much that they bought homes 2 or 3 lots down the street. I've had houseguests (an Army buddy I haven't seen in 15 years, her husband and daughter) for the last 2 weeks and they love it here and are looking for a home in the neighborhood.

 

*They are a family who used to live on the next street but wanted a bigger house so they moved 4 or 5 streets away.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Hixter, your neighborhood sounds much better than that of George Zimmerman. I am guessing you don't have many armed wanna-be cops out patrolling the streets, phoning the police every time they see someone "suspicious."

[Hixter]

Street name?  Smart phone.

Zimmerman has said that he was trying to find a street number.

[Hixter]

Hixter, your neighborhood sounds much better than that of George Zimmerman. I am guessing you don't have many armed wanna-be cops out patrolling the streets, phoning the police every time they see someone "suspicious."

I imagine it probably is, but all of my neighbors are armed and we have a neighborhood watch. Last Monday I attended the annual HOA meeting and a sheriff's deputy addressed the crowd and urged everyone to report any and all suspicious activity that they might observe.

[calvino]

I imagine it probably is, but all of my neighbors are armed and we have a neighborhood watch. Last Monday I attended the annual HOA meeting and a sheriff's deputy addressed the crowd and urged everyone to report any and all suspicious activity that they might observe.

 

Exactly - If Zimmerman just did the above (and listened to authorities), I don't think we would be discussing any of this and another person would be alive.

[uncool2pillow]

a sheriff's deputy addressed the crowd and urged everyone to report any and all suspicious activity

 

Oops, Calvino beat me to the punch.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

By the way, not to beat a dead horse, but has it been established that

1) Zimmerman was in fact walking back to his vehicle, or

2) He was attacked by T.M.?

I understand that is his version, but did forensics prove it accurate in some way? Obviously, I have not been following the story that closely, just the political fallout.

[uncool2pillow]

Seems to be solid evidence from Marin's clothing that at the time of the shooting he was on top of Zimmerman. There are conflicting eyewitness accounts. Some say they saw Zimmerman on top, so maybe they wrestled around a bit. I can't answer your specific questions. I kind of hope Hixter can.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

I really question the "walking back to the vehicle" portion of the account. He is armed; he followed the victim in his truck; he got out of the vehicle and was also told, "We don't need you to do that." And he also said, "Fucking punks always get away with it." Did he not follow on foot at some point? How does anyone know he went back toward the vehicle? 

[Winston Legthigh]

His initial phone call doesn't match up the way he presents the timeline of events in  the video-walkthrough.

 

You'd think he'd say something about "I don't know what street I'm on - I need to check the address", but he never does. Instead he says something about "he's running, They always get away."

 

In the video, he says he doesn't know where TM went, but in the call, he's describing where he went, and he's following him...

[Mr. Heartbreak]

I don't claim to know what was in this guy's head or heart, but here is a little history of calls he made to the police over a period of less than a year. I don't think it's a stretch to call this a "pattern."

 

April 22, 2011 – 7:09 p.m.
Type: TEL
Subject: Suspicious activity
Report: Juvenile black male “apprx 7–9” years old, four feet tall “skinny build short blk hair” last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and blue shorts

 

Aug. 3, 2011 – 6:45 p.m.
Type: TEL
Subject: Suspicious activity
Report: Black male last seen wearing a white tank top and black shorts … Zimmerman “believes subject is involved in recent” burglaries in the neighborhood

 

Aug. 6, 2011 – 10:20 p.m.
Type: TEL
Subject: Suspicious activity
Report: Two black males, one wearing a black tank top and black shorts, the second wearing a black t-shirt and jeans … “Subjs are in their teens”

 

Oct. 1, 2011 – 12:53 a.m.
Type: TEL
Subject: Suspicious activity
Report: Two black male suspects “20–30 YOA in [white] Chevy poss Impala at the gate of the community.” Zimmerman “does not recognize subjs or veh and is concerned due to recent” burglaries in the area

 

Feb. 2, 2012 – 8:29 p.m.
Type: TEL
Subject: Suspicious activity
Report: “Black male: black leather jacket, black hat, printed PJ pants, he keeps going to this” location

 

Feb. 26, 2012 (night of Martin shooting) – 7:11 p.m.
Type: TEL
Subject: Suspicious activity
Report: Black male “late teens lsw dark gray hoodie jeans or sweatpants walking around area” … “subj now running towards back entrance of complex” 

 

Is this what neighborhood watch people are supposed to do? Call the cops when there is a "Juvenile black male “apprx 7–9” years old? You can't walk up to the kid and ask him if he's lost? There is something (or maybe several things) seriously wrong with this dude.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Interesting article in Slate on the lack of rioting after the verdict, and how much of the phony race war BS was actually ginned up by the right-wing media.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/07/14/george_zimmerman_verdict_why_did_conservatives_expect_violent_riots.html

[IRememberDBoon]

MASSIVE HIXTER YAWN

I love this passive stance Republicans have taken on this one. Funny. Well...........hemmmm..........hawwwww.........lets just wait and see and hear all of the evidence.

 "Hopefully the irony of cheering on vigilantism while decrying vigilantism isn't lost on you."

This type of crap is kinda what im talking about. I don't really know how to explain it but im an idiot.

Truth is they could care less but GOD HELP US if it was the other way around. A 19 year old white kid walking home with Skittles and tea and some black guy following him in a car. If you don't believe the outcome would be different then that's that.

Funny thing I saw on the internet to other day some guy saying Trayvon was a thug because he had a picture of a gun on his facebook page. I thought that was funny. Black Kid with gun = Thug. Anyone else with a gun = 2nd amendment patriot

I hang out with a bunch of US Marshals because they are in my family. We talk about it almost daily and one of the first things one of them told me was that HE doesn't even have the right to shoot one of his prisoners in his custody if they are beating his ass. I thought that was interesting

See us lefties don't believe Zimmerman committed first degree murder. It was 2nd/or manslaughter and his punk ass should have gotten at least 5 years to sit and think about taking a life so quickly. That's the way it should work.



 

[Hixter]

MASSIVE HIXTER YAWN

Was that necessary? Perhaps you could try treating me with the same politeness that I treat you. It's not really all that difficult.

 

Black Kid with gun = Thug. Anyone else with a gun = 2nd amendment patriot

No, it's: anyone legally owning/using a gun = good citizen. Anyone illegally owning/using a gun = criminal.

 

I hang out with a bunch of US Marshals because they are in my family. We talk about it almost daily and one of the first things one of them told me was that HE doesn't even have the right to shoot one of his prisoners in his custody if they are beating his ass.

That's simply untrue. Any law enforcement officer who feels that his life is threatened can, and often will, use deadly force to protect himself. Hell, cops will open fire on a car if the driver so much as runs over their big toe. I guarantee you that if you overpower a law enforcement officer, start bashing his head on the concrete and reach for his gun -- as Zimmerman has claimed -- that cop will put a bullet in you.

 

Zimmerman didn't break any Florida laws.

[lost highway]

No, it's: anyone legally owning/using a gun = good citizen. Anyone illegally owning/using a gun = criminal.

 

And herein lies the cracks that reveal how extreme your bias is.  The conditions of legality do not guarantee goodness.  There have been many depraved acts committed by Americans who were legal owners of the instruments with which they committed the acts, including chasing an unarmed man after being instructed not to and shooting him when a fist fight ensues.

 

This is not the first time you have confused legality with righteousness.  The entire history of state societies is rife with the slippage and contradictions between these two conditions.

[Hixter]

I don't claim to know what was in this guy's head or heart, but here is a little history of calls he made to the police over a period of less than a year. I don't think it's a stretch to call this a "pattern."

Zimmerman made 46 calls to 911 or the non-emergency line over the last few years, yet you listed only the 6 or 7 which mention African-Americans. Perhaps the "pattern" is of your own making?

 

There have been many depraved acts committed by Americans who were legal owners of the instruments with which they committed the acts

And as soon as they used their weapons in an unlawful manner they became criminals.

[LouieB]

I can't believe you guys are discussing this.  Clearly Hixter thinks it was perfectly fine for Zimmerman to kill Martin.  What's not to understand about his position??

 

LouieB