Small Town Injustice in Jena

posted by Peter Rothberg on 09/11/2007 @ 3:44pm

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For an update on the Jena 6 case read my colleague Mark Sorkin's new exclusive online report.

I've been meaning to write about the Jena 6 since I first heard the shocking details of what sounds like a story from the Jim Crow-era South. But the lives of six black high school students--accused of beating up a white classmate after a series of racial incidents at a high school in the small Louisiana town--are being ruined today in Jena, Louisiana in a case that simply boggles the mind.

The trouble started when one black student, after requesting and receiving permission from the school administration, decided to sit under a shade tree traditionally used by white students. In response, white students hung three nooses from the tree. That act -- a throwback to the days when blacks were lynched for exercising their civil rights -- was portrayed by school officials as a "silly prank," and the white students got off with a slap on the wrist.

But, while the misconduct by white students was handled as a joke, a related incident in which a former student brandished a shotgun at three black students went unpunished and a subsequent attack against a black student at a private party resulted in one of the attackers being charged with only a misdemeanor, school officials and the LaSalle Parish District Attorney have brought out a hammer against the black students charging them with felonious assault and second degree attempted murder which could result in decades of imprisonment.

This video below prepared by Collateral News does a great job in detailing the case, the charges and the racist application of justice so evident in the proceedings so far.

After watching the report, click here to sign a national petition asking the Louisiana governor to intervene in the case and consider sending a donation to the students' legal defense fund by mailing checks to the Jena 6 Defense Fund, PO Box 2798, Jena, La. 71342 or by giving online.

Fortunately, this petition is just one part of a growing campaign on behalf of the six black teenagers charged with attacking a white student in the small town of Jena. The NAACP has made the case a top priority and is organizing a September 20 march on Jena, civil rights leaders are planning to attend protests next week and lawyers nationwide are taking an interest in the situation.

"The case has captured the imagination of a lot of people," Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is helping to coordinate legal representation for the six boys and is paying for some of their legal fees, told ABC News today. "It's taken on symbolic importance as a microcosm for so many other things that are wrong with the criminal justice system."

Comments (65)

Isn't it a bit odd that Kathleen Blanco needs to be PETITIONED about this?

Seems like a no-brainer for a Democrat, even in Louisiana?

Posted by Mask at 09/11/2007 @ 3:49pm
She's a very lame, cautious politician!

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 09/11/2007 @ 3:57pm
she impresses me as a real incompetant. speaking out and proactively dealing with this would have been an easy way to score political points AND do the right thing.

easy...win/win...right...

lame and cautious...incompetant

Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/11/2007 @ 4:08pm
PETER,

Lots of `foreplay' as set-up for Jena.....but nothing on what seems to be 6 black kids ganging on to beat up 1 white kid? Are you suggesting that due to selective non-prosecution, these 6 kids are to be dealt the same way even if the relevant fact right now is 6 on 1 assault?

Posted by Happy at 09/11/2007 @ 4:09pm
I think the charges should be dealt with proportionally. The double-standards in this case are rife. The relevant facts in the case encompas far more than the latest alleged beating.

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 09/11/2007 @ 4:12pm
Posted by MASK 09/11/2007 @ 3:49pm

well the name "blanco" should tell you a lot.

a) 4.1% reduction in state population (black people who left after Katrina)

b) 64.1% white population.

she's not doing anything because she wants to get re-elected.

if she gets involved, black people who would vote democrat anyways say �good work!

besides there are fewer of them now, anyways.

if she gets involved, a lot of white people (independents, dems) will be upset at such a "liberal" ploy and either not turn out or worse, vote republican.

she's playing a cynical game of numbers

check out the bolded stats:

Louisiana

Population, 2006 estimate 4,287,768

Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 -4.1%

Population, 2000 4,468,976

White persons, percent, 2005 64.1%

Black persons, percent, 2005 33.1%

American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2005 0.6%

Asian persons, percent, 2005 1.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2005 0.0%

Persons reporting two or more races*****, percent, 2005 0.8%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2005 2.8%

*****doesn't this really apply to all of us? FZ

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/11/2007 @ 4:12pm
Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/11/2007 @ 4:12pm

Blanco announced back in March, she's not running for re-election.

Posted by Mask at 09/11/2007 @ 4:19pm
Posted by MASK 09/11/2007 @ 4:19pm

damn

well then, it's because she's an uncaring boor.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/11/2007 @ 4:21pm
*****doesn't this really apply to all of us? FZ

Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/11/2007 @ 4:12pm

excellent point, ZOOMER.

if we all have our origins in africa, doesn't that make us all niggers (please note angry sarcasm)

what does "anglo" mean if everybody and their viking uncle invaded england?

what does "mexican" mean if the aztecs, the mayans, the spanish, the french, the yanks all did the deed amongst each other?

on the latest census, i listed my son's race as "HYBRID"

aren't we all?

i just can't understand why we still have to deal with such nonsense.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/11/2007 @ 4:29pm
well then, it's because she's an uncaring boor.----Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/11/2007 @ 4:21pm |

Careful with that...it's what the Right uses to shift blame for Katrina relief from Bush to Blanco.

Posted by Mask at 09/11/2007 @ 4:52pm
Posted by MASK 09/11/2007 @ 4:52pm

geez...between the lame federal response, the lame dem governor, and the lame "mayor of chocolate city" those poor people of southern La. are screwed...

i'm sure some voodoo witch doctor has considered resurrecting huey long - zombie government - could it be worse?

Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/11/2007 @ 5:15pm
sounds to me like a whole lot of people need expelled from school and or jail time---The kids who put up the noose--suspended or expelled if there is any previous problems; the kids who beat up the black student at a party--jail time; the guy who pulled the gun--jail time; the kids who beat up the white kid at school---expelled and jail time.

Posted by Len Mosse at 09/11/2007 @ 5:41pm
I got involved with this issue through my denomination, the United Church of Christ (UCC). Here is the letter that I wrote:

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Office of the Governor of Louisiana PO Box 94004, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004

Dear Governor:

Through web-mail, my church, the United Church of Christ, has informed me of the oppressive state of racism in and around the high school of Jena, Louisiana. I believe the "Jena six," the six young black men charged with attempted second degree murder, acted wrongly, but under extenuating circumstances. Their felony conviction ought to be commuted.

By commuting the sentences of the Jena six, you can, as Governor and as a leader of Louisianans of all races, admonish the primitive white racists of Jena that terror and oppression will eventually lead to violence, and that this violence is not the fault of the perpetrators alone. In the interest of preventing further terror and violent escalation, I implore you to take this step � courageously and for justice.

Sincerely, MY REAL NAME

This letter will not of course solve the problems at Jena, even if it helps to free the Jena Six. I would be encouraged if the next class of white boys at Jena were required to learn about some of the more shameful aspects of their own history.

Posted by JakobFabian at 09/11/2007 @ 6:10pm
Posted by LEN MOSSE 09/11/2007 @ 5:41pm

i agree

Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/11/2007 @ 6:21pm
Tragedies such as this one represent the charicature of racism; brutal, overt, directly violent acts, usually black and white. The racism that sadly persists unchallenged is the covert, systemic type. It all ultimately stems from the race-class correlation. In fighting to eliminate poverty, we could do more to curb racism than anything else.

Posted by MATTMAN at 09/11/2007 @ 7:18pm
One question- Was the kid who pulled the shotgun in any way threatened/feel threatened by the three black kids? (3 on 1 aren't very good odds and maybe he felt he needed an "equalizer.") I didn't hear that addressed and is important to that part of the issue. Otherwise, I agree with LM.

Posted by usc1 at 09/11/2007 @ 9:04pm
Posted by LEN MOSSE 09/11/2007 @ 5:41pm | ignore this person

better yet, we could put their parents in jail, sharing cells with someone of the "opposite" colour until they finally said "peace"

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/11/2007 @ 10:07pm
Posted by JAKOBFABIAN 09/11/2007 @ 6:10pm

thank you for going beyond just being outraged.

BTW ha! ha! we now know you're not really jakob fabian. we're onto you, MR. NAME!

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/11/2007 @ 10:11pm
ZERO -- Thanks for that correction. YOu're right. And thanks, of course, for passing the petition around.

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 09/11/2007 @ 10:26pm
peter rothberg:

i just realized something:

you must be a really nice human. most of your posts are about helping people and that is inspiring.

thank you.

BTW if i get busted by DHS next time i try to enter the u.s. (i must have offended someone by now), will you come to my rescue?

excellent work, human.

o+]

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/12/2007 @ 12:03am
Posted by PETER ROTHBERG 09/11/2007 @ 10:26pm |

Oh, great....there'll be no living with ZERO and his ego now!

Posted by Mask at 09/12/2007 @ 08:56am
Remember the good old days when a black dude wading through the flood waters in New Orleans with an arm full of groceries was a looter but a white dude walking through the flood waters in New Orleans with an arm full of groceries was just scavenging for food?

Twelve years of evangelic conservative rule and all we have to show for it is lies, a bull shit war, more lies, the sale of our county to the commies, more lies, surrender to bin laden, even more lies, and the same tired old conservative prejudice re-enshrined in media and law.

Evangelic conservatism has to go

Posted by Will C. at 09/12/2007 @ 09:04am
and I think it will

Posted by Will C. at 09/12/2007 @ 09:04am
Posted by WILL C. 09/12/2007 @ 09:04am

i'm neither a theologist nor a poli-sci dude.

but to me "Evangelic conservatism" is an oxymoron.

EVANGELISM is an activity whereby a Christian explains or presents the Christian gospel of Jesus to one seen as a non-Christian, with the intention of enabling that person to respond to this by becoming a Christian. Evangelist Ray Comfort says "simply put, Christian evangelism is when we share our faith with others

CONSERVATISM is a term used to describe political philosophies that favor tradition and gradual change, where tradition refers to religious, cultural, or nationally defined beliefs and customs. The term is derived from the Latin, conserv?re, to conserve; "to keep, guard, observe". Since different cultures have different established values, conservatives in different cultures have different goals. There is no perpetually 'ideal' society in conservative thought. Some conservatives seek to preserve the status quo or to reform society slowly, while others seek to return to the values of an earlier time, the status quo ante.

hmmm...

keep the status quo by changing people.

i don't get it.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/12/2007 @ 09:39am
and I think it will

Posted by WILL C. 09/12/2007 @ 09:04am

Uh, WILL....didn't it already? Seems we had a turn-over of Congress last November...maybe you missed it.

Posted by Mask at 09/12/2007 @ 10:14am
Lets see, hanging three nooses vs a physical beating. Only here would the two be equated. What's your justification for equating them, Peter, that it used to be the other way 'round 100 years ago? DO two wrongs make everything right?

Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/12/2007 @ 10:56am
Chip -

Wise up. The point isn't that the six should avoid any punishment. It's the proportion. Some were charged with attempted murder for crying out loud, one sentenced to 22 years -- for a fistfight that allegedly occured after the white kid used racial slurs at a party. Doesn't justify a beating, but the beating doesn't justify 22 years for a teenager either.

Posted by Hman23 at 09/12/2007 @ 11:26am
FROSTY -- Thanks but you gotta talk to my family!

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 09/12/2007 @ 11:27am
CHIP -- And beyond HMAN's pt, it's more a case of equating an ex-student threatening blacks students with a shotgun and a separate beating of a black student with the beating of the white student. It's well explained if you watch the video. The noose incident set the whole thing off but was actually the most benign of the racists incidents that followed in its wake.

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 09/12/2007 @ 11:28am
Give them all boxing gloves, draw lots as to who enters the ring first with whom, and start a round robin...and the winner goes to jail...by the end of the sessions they may come to realize they are all equal screwed up and just might become friends, or at worst, have to talk to each other while waiting on the bench..

A good first start would be to get rid of the lawyers involved and for the love of God, keep the governor and all politicians near the media out of it.

Posted by john maasch at 09/12/2007 @ 11:42am
PETER,

Any particular reason for the "horse change in mid-stream"...i.e. title of your article?

Posted by Mask at 09/12/2007 @ 12:00pm
Posted by PETER ROTHBERG 09/12/2007 @ 11:27am

ya, i know the feeling

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/12/2007 @ 12:50pm
Did The Nation have an article of concern posted, about the injustice in the Duke Lacrosse team case? I don't know - just asking....

Posted by ILOVEPHYSICS at 09/12/2007 @ 1:42pm
We see where you are going with the Duke comment, but in that case-the boys were legally men, rich, (soon to be much richer) and hardly lost in the system. I'm glad you are so free of prejudice you are unable to draw distinctions. Just curious, what were those self-righteous Duke lads doing with the stripper?

Posted by phillymark at 09/12/2007 @ 2:09pm
Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/12/2007 @ 2:09pm |

PHILLY, speaking of self-righteous....so if you're "rich or (soon to be)" (btw, how do you define that?), it's "no biggie" if you're falsely accused of a capital crime?

Posted by Mask at 09/12/2007 @ 2:36pm
I see your point and realize the obvious trap I set for myself- I just don't have a lot of sympathy for those louts. Yes the DA was way out of line and the case was flimsy at best. But I have no doubt the boys abused the woman on some level- though my opinion would never stand up to a grand jury- and I probably would not have charged them with rape. The DA is getting justice, and the boys will eventually get their lives back- not so sure about these kids in Jena. If they had the resources available to the Dukies, The Nation never would have had to write this article.

Posted by phillymark at 09/12/2007 @ 3:04pm
Happy, It seems to me that the "relevant fact" here is racism. blatant and outrageous. 1 white kid brandished a GUN (which seems a lot more like attempted murder to me) to threaten 3 black kids and nothing happened to him. Then, another white kid brutally attacked a black kid at a party and it was treated as a misdemeanor. So, how is it that 6 black kids could face 15 years each for conspiracy to commit murder for a fight that resulted in scratches and bruises? Plus, the only evidence against them seems to be word of a racist. Mychal Bell maintains his innocence in the matter.

Posted by MED at 09/12/2007 @ 4:00pm
But I have no doubt the boys abused the woman on some level----Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/12/2007 @ 3:04pm

Why do you have no doubt of that?

Please don't tell me it's because "they were white and she was black"...or "they were rich boys"...etc. Because you KNOW the counter-examples will follow quickly from Tawana Brawley to Patrick Kennedy.

Posted by Mask at 09/12/2007 @ 4:31pm
Again, I said "Abused", not raped. I guess it's hard for you to believe abuse could occur when a whole crew of drunk young men are left alone with a desperate private dancer. Don't make this more than it needs to be- I'm not seeking a trial or to reopen the case, I just have much less sympathy for these young men than for the minors in Jena. Stop trying to make this racial. I never mentioned race, just economic differences.

Posted by phillymark at 09/12/2007 @ 4:41pm
Happy, It seems to me that the "relevant fact" here is racism. blatant and outrageous. 1 white kid brandished a GUN (which seems a lot more like attempted murder to me) to threaten 3 black kids and nothing happened to him.....

Posted by MED 09/12/2007 @ 4:00pm

Selective, differential or NON-prosecution can all be hallmarks of Racism.....I'm not sure why my question to PETER (thanks for reply) gave rise to you thinking I didn't know there is the Racism angle!

In your ?liberal? world, brandishing a gun seems "like attempted murder"? I guess you are in the same camp as those who think foot-tapping and hand waving in bathrooms are serious crimes as well!

Posted by Happy at 09/12/2007 @ 5:17pm
Who knows; maybe they had it coming.

Posted by woodyee at 09/12/2007 @ 8:10pm
We see where you are going with the Duke comment, but in that case-the boys were legally men, rich, (soon to be much richer) and hardly lost in the system. I'm glad you are so free of prejudice you are unable to draw distinctions. Just curious, what were those self-righteous Duke lads doing with the stripper?

Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/12/2007 @ 2:09pm

Actually, you don't see where I am going. But how nice of you to jump to the conclusion that I am unable to draw distinctions just because I asked a question. If you go back and actually understand my post, and you will see that you have totally dreamed up something in your delusional mind that I never said or implied.

But it's nice to know that it is ok (by your standards, anyway) to trash someone's life if he is "rich" and heterosexual. I notice you never asked "what was that stripper doing with those lads?"

Posted by ILOVEPHYSICS at 09/13/2007 @ 08:47am
Again, I said "Abused", not raped. I guess it's hard for you to believe abuse could occur when a whole crew of drunk young men are left alone with a desperate private dancer.

Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/12/2007 @ 4:41pm

Again with you! It is ok to be a stripper but not ok to be a customer of a stripper?

Posted by ILOVEPHYSICS at 09/13/2007 @ 08:51am
My god people, relax. This is not court here, we're just talking. Sorry if I jumped to conclusions with your original comment, but I have heard so many people over the last several months, constantly asking why the Duke students don't get an apology from Black leaders, or liberal media personalities.

"But it's nice to know that it is ok (by your standards, anyway) to trash someone's life if he is "rich" and heterosexual. I notice you never asked "what was that stripper doing with those lads?"

When did I mention "heterosexual"? Why is it so hard for you and others to see the differences between the Duke boys and the Jena six? Obviously- people have the right to see strippers, great. I can't believe we are still discussing this. I will make it clear and you can take it for what it's worth: We all draw our own conclusions, and farly or unfairly, I believe the Duke students frequently hire low priced strippers to entertain at parties, ie have some forms of sex, are paid a lot of cash for their time, and the students get a laugh and a thrill. Most strippers put aside most abuse or demeaning behavior, because they cannot afford to lose the client base, they work a college town. I've personally seen this in many college towns and don't think this is a stretch. If you are naieve enough to think this is a stripper doing a burlesque show, god bless you, we just differ.

Posted by phillymark at 09/13/2007 @ 09:39am
Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/13/2007 @ 09:39am

PHILLY, are we going out on a limb to assume that you think those "low paid strippers" are somehow FORCED by economic circumstance into their profession? (and resulting "abuses"?)

Posted by Mask at 09/13/2007 @ 09:54am
Never said they were forced. I love this forum- can't tell if you are a conservative that thinks I'm a bleeding heart liberal blaming the rich white "man", or if you are a libertarian who believes prostitution should be legal. Or perhaps you are a free spirit who believes sex should never be strapped by laws. It's nice to see you are all assuming just as much about my comments as I have yours.

Posted by phillymark at 09/13/2007 @ 10:01am
Posted by MASK 09/13/2007 @ 09:54am

for lots of girls here it's the only way to pay for school

not forced, but..........

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/13/2007 @ 10:51am
Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/13/2007 @ 10:01am

No, PHIL, just trying to pin down your "logic".

First you "have no doubt" the stripper was "abused". Then explain how "poor strippers" HAVE to allow themselves to be abused or lose their high-paying frat boy customers.

So now, I'm just asking if you think those women are FORCED (via their economic hardship or something) to become strippers.

If so, then you need to prove that. If not, then they are VOLUNTEERING to be "abused"...right? So which is it?

Posted by Mask at 09/13/2007 @ 12:12pm
FROSTY....

Was Crystal Gail Mangum going to college?

Posted by Mask at 09/13/2007 @ 12:13pm
Posted by MASK 09/13/2007 @ 12:13pm

never said she was.

was speaking from what i've seen, that's all.

most girls become strippers for the $.

some for a habit. some for school. some 'cause they want more stuff. and a lot do it so they can send money home to their families.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/13/2007 @ 12:19pm
If so, then you need to prove that. If not, then they are VOLUNTEERING to be "abused"...right? So which is it?

I don't need to prove anything on this blog... too bad the DA didn't just blog on the Nation.

Are you a Professor of logic, or just a killjoy?

Posted by phillymark at 09/13/2007 @ 1:11pm
...a Professor of logic, or just a killjoy?

Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/13/2007 @ 1:11pm

More and more, a "killjoy".....The Iraq War has meesed up his mind! Poor thing!

Posted by Happy at 09/13/2007 @ 2:53pm
PETER ROTHBERG, MASK, HAPPY,

No doubt that a fight occured, but attempted murder charges? Puhleez. Governor Blanco should let the "justice system" (if anyone wishes to call it that) run its course and then give these young men the Bush Brand "Scooter Libby" Treatment.

But this is one lesson that Blacks in America should have learned long before now. Anytime you run afoul of the law, regardless of the reasons and/or mitigating circumstances, you will pay the price tenfold that whites would normally pay, proportionality being a joke of a watchword that need not apply.

Posted by POSEIDON at 09/13/2007 @ 7:32pm
Are you a Professor of logic, or just a killjoy? ----Posted by PHILLYMARK 09/13/2007 @ 1:11pm

It tends to be the same thing to those who base things more on emotion than logic or thinking.

Posted by Mask at 09/13/2007 @ 8:51pm
Posted by HAPPY 09/13/2007 @ 2:53pm

HAPP is upset. We agree on many issues, but he claims to be a conservative...yet is for endless deficit spending. He claims to have been ambivalent on going to war in Iraq (but "supports it now")...but has never said anything negative about Bush's decision to go. And he claims that the money we're spending in Iraq is now a "jobs program"...at $500 BILLION, we ALL should be working for Halliburton at $100K a year!

Posted by Mask at 09/13/2007 @ 8:53pm
No doubt that a fight occured, but attempted murder charges? Puhleez. Governor Blanco should let the "justice system" (if anyone wishes to call it that) run its course and then give these young men the Bush Brand "Scooter Libby" Treatment.

But this is one lesson that Blacks in America should have learned long before now. Anytime you run afoul of the law, regardless of the reasons and/or mitigating circumstances, you will pay the price tenfold that whites would normally pay, proportionality being a joke of a watchword that need not apply.

Posted by POSEIDON 09/13/2007 @ 7:32pm | ignore this person

First of all, Peter, thanks for putting this out there. I'm a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and our executive board has sent a statement out to mainstream media outlets demanding that they follow the Jena 6 story. Lots of my colleagues within that organization have written on it, as have I. If you'd like to see NABJ's statement, it's at www.nabj.org.

Secondly, Poseidon, your words sum up this situation better than mine ever could. I thank you.

Having been black for 43 years, and having had fathers, brothers and others tell me of their police experiences, I've learned that when it comes to the "justice" system, there's really no "justice", there's "just us".

This case is possibly the most glaring example I've seen of this in a while. While it's not as glaring as the lawlessness that went on and went unpunished in the 1960s, it shows that we still have quite a way to go in terms of true equality and justice under the law.

I have a strict personal no-retaliation clause because I'm of the belief that the whole eye for an eye thing leads to two people going blind. But, when you see that folks can beat you up, and practice ethnic intimidation against you with impunity, that whole non-retaliation thing becomes a joke.

And Chip, you're from Kentucky. You should know exactly what message a noose on a tree sends to a group of black kids. If their parents have the Ebony Encylopedia of Black America anywhere in the house, they've seen pictures of lynchings. The hanging is the least of it. The hanging was what happened to you after you were beaten, had your genitals cut off, and were burned.

From what I've read about Jena since this case has hit the media, the kids that put those nooses up knew exactly what message they wanted to send. That law enforcement officials want to write this off as a "prank" tells me that someone needs to remove their head from their ass and with the quickness. I know that nooses on a tree isn't a physical slap, but it is a psychic one. For you not to get that shows an insensitivity that I know you don't have.

Posted by edwriter at 09/14/2007 @ 12:06pm
I've learned that when it comes to the "justice" system, there's really no "justice", there's "just us".

Posted by EDWRITER 09/14/2007 @ 12:06pm

gil scott-heron couldn't have said it better

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/14/2007 @ 12:16pm
....yet is for endless deficit spending. He claims to have been ambivalent on going to war in Iraq (but "supports it now")...but has never said anything negative about Bush's decision to go. And he claims that the money we're spending in Iraq is now a "jobs program"...at $500 BILLION, we ALL should be working for Halliburton at $100K a year!

Posted by MASK 09/13/2007 @ 8:53pm

MASK,

You are becoming more dishonest w/every post...and maybe this is why you end up in never-ending feuds w/so many! Now I see how it was quite possible YOU were the evildoer!

I made no statement "for endless deficit spending", I stated something to the effect deficits doesn't matter and can't be shown to be detrimental considering recent history when deficits have been rising rapidly. Further, I followed w/opinion very specifically related to foreigners buying US debt and also stated that such borrowing DO lead to higher interest rate that DOES affect our domestic economy. IF you don't understand my points, do NOT twist them into something, like assurance, to help you make some other discussion point!

Next, I was NEVER ambivalent about Bush going into Iraq and my any ambivalence that I developed post-Mission Accomplished, is to the extended effort to babysit a long-term democracy project.

a retort to you that the Iraq War has created some jobs between 1 or 2 to 6 billion, is hardly advocating War as a "jobs program".

And, when did I claim, as you clearly state I did, that "we ALL should be working for Halliburton at $100K a year!"

As a blog full-timer, with high likelihood of being paid by somebody (I have a `theory' that I may share w/the blog later as the campaign develops), you have an advantage we can't overcome! But indeed, you picked a great handle....MASK indeed!

IF what I have experienced in these couple of days is how you operate, you have fallen far!!

Posted by Happy at 09/14/2007 @ 2:59pm
gil scott-heron couldn't have said it better

Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/14/2007 @ 12:16pm | ignore this person

As a writer, that's among the nicest comments that one can receive. Thank you.

Posted by edwriter at 09/14/2007 @ 4:24pm
Posted by EDWRITER 09/14/2007 @ 4:24pm

yeah, also if your a musician

keep up the good work

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/14/2007 @ 5:13pm
HAPPY,

First, so you SUPPORTED the war from the beginning, but you don't support "babysitting a long-term democracy project"?!?! Okay, well then why don't you want us out of Iraq NOW? You want us to stay in Iraq until "Bush, Petraeus, or Lieberman" say get out...isn't THAT "babysitting a long-term democracy project"!?!?

Second, you say you're not for "endless deficit spending" yet say "deficits doesn't matter and can't be shown to be detrimental considering recent history when deficits have been rising rapidly"....and don't offer ANY point at which they should be stopped....so isn't that "endless"?

Third, YOU didn't claim that we should all be working for Halliburton. It was ME saying that given the amount of money we're spending in Iraq, we SHOULD be working for Halliburton, since it's an ENORMOUS amount of cash and IF as you claimed, it "produces jobs"...we should all be getting one and at a HIGH salary. How many jobs HAS it produced?...any ideas?

Fourth, "As a blog full-timer, with high likelihood of being paid by somebody"....ROFLMAO!!!! Do you know how many times I've been accused of being a "paid REPUBLICAN operative"? Let me guess...you think I'm a "paid DEMOCRATIC operative"?...heheh

Posted by Mask at 09/17/2007 @ 09:14am
Do you know how many times I've been accused of being a "paid REPUBLICAN operative"? Let me guess...you think I'm a "paid DEMOCRATIC operative"?...heheh

Posted by MASK 09/17/2007 @ 09:14am

While I did visit TN (very rarely) prior to early this year, as a regular since, I NEVER once thought you are a GOP-paid operative but I've thought for some time, some group IS paying you to be here. However, since I don't know what you were like before this year--it seems you have been here for several years--I can't say w/absolute certainly.

IF I am to limit my opinion (of your comments) strictly as to how they affect/relate to the 2008 Election, I'd say I'm 95% you are paid to MASK yourself well while promoting several agendas. I maybe wrong, but that's my take! Seems simple to me....no sane person has the energy, time, nor desire to take on everybody here, unless PAID to do so! Time to be inefficient (get it, FROSTY?).

Posted by Happy at 09/17/2007 @ 12:41pm
Conviction thrown out on appeal. Looks like the DA blew it by not filing in juvenile court.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/14/jena.six/index.html?eref=rss_law

Posted by Hman23 at 09/17/2007 @ 1:53pm
Posted by HAPPY 09/17/2007 @ 12:41pm

HAPPY, I'm really curious....who do you think, are my "employers"?

Posted by Mask at 09/17/2007 @ 4:05pm
...who do you think, are my "employers"?

Posted by MASK 09/17/2007 @ 4:05pm

Let's be real, some blog posters aren't doing it for diversions! Hell, even the CEO of Whole Foods did it to drive down the stock prices of Wild Oats! In your case, only time will firm up my present, murky impression! I'll read you w/a bit more `attitude' and see where it leads! In any case, NOBODY expects admissions by you even if you are what I (and others) suspect!

This IS the oldest of Lib magazines and it deserves a few paid MASKS! Any Agatha Christies or Pink Panthers out there?

Posted by Happy at 09/17/2007 @ 5:07pm