Monday, August 30, 2004
THEY'RE HERE
News from the Street. I was one of the many NYC Police Officers monitoring the big protest march yesterday. I took up position at the corner of 34th and 7th Avenue next to Macy's. The point when the march passes Madison Square Garden and then turns the corner heading east down 34th. I found most the protestors to be mildly amusing and they took up a widely varying array of causes. The funniest sign award goes to a girl in an elephant costume holding a sign that read: Not in our name. Elephants against Bush.
Macy's has a giant outside TV hanging on the wall. It was showing FOX NEWS. The marchers were not happy. It caused a chorus of boos and anti-Fox News chants. I don't agree with many of the protestors and think the protest is pointless because the nation and the world already knows half of the country doesn't want Bush re-elected. On the most part I found them amusing, was indifferent or tolerable. Only a couple of signs pissed me off.
1. The end the Israeli occupation, palestine stuff.
2. Support of the "freedom fighters" in Iraq.
I of course kept my profesional presence and didn't give those boneheads a piece of my mind.
Some of the marchers carried signs that said, give the NYPD a raise, I could appreciate that. I had just finished commenting about how the protest was going smoothly and very peaceful, untill some dumb shits got stupid and all hell broke loose. I won't go into details but I got to use the baton on the achilles submission move twice.
All in all it wasn't nearly as bad as most cops thought it would be. Cop paranoia had many warnings about piss and shit being thrown at us. Razor blades, ect... Most cops pretty much thought the protestors would hate us and would be plotting and actively trying to injure us. I thought these fears might be exaggerated but I was prepared for anything and on guard the whole time.
Other than the overtime money I will be getting I think the RNC in NYC is a bad idea. It's caused a lot of inconvenience and traffic nightmares. It's costing a lot of money to host and it's costing cash strapped City a lot of money. The Feds are picking up part of the tab, but either way it's coming out of our taxes.
I'm sure it's huring the local economy as many residents have decided to leave the city during the convention and many tourist have decided to avoid visiting. This loss is definately not being made up by the people in town for the convention.
Tha't my 2 cents.
News from the Street. I was one of the many NYC Police Officers monitoring the big protest march yesterday. I took up position at the corner of 34th and 7th Avenue next to Macy's. The point when the march passes Madison Square Garden and then turns the corner heading east down 34th. I found most the protestors to be mildly amusing and they took up a widely varying array of causes. The funniest sign award goes to a girl in an elephant costume holding a sign that read: Not in our name. Elephants against Bush.
Macy's has a giant outside TV hanging on the wall. It was showing FOX NEWS. The marchers were not happy. It caused a chorus of boos and anti-Fox News chants. I don't agree with many of the protestors and think the protest is pointless because the nation and the world already knows half of the country doesn't want Bush re-elected. On the most part I found them amusing, was indifferent or tolerable. Only a couple of signs pissed me off.
1. The end the Israeli occupation, palestine stuff.
2. Support of the "freedom fighters" in Iraq.
I of course kept my profesional presence and didn't give those boneheads a piece of my mind.
Some of the marchers carried signs that said, give the NYPD a raise, I could appreciate that. I had just finished commenting about how the protest was going smoothly and very peaceful, untill some dumb shits got stupid and all hell broke loose. I won't go into details but I got to use the baton on the achilles submission move twice.
All in all it wasn't nearly as bad as most cops thought it would be. Cop paranoia had many warnings about piss and shit being thrown at us. Razor blades, ect... Most cops pretty much thought the protestors would hate us and would be plotting and actively trying to injure us. I thought these fears might be exaggerated but I was prepared for anything and on guard the whole time.
Other than the overtime money I will be getting I think the RNC in NYC is a bad idea. It's caused a lot of inconvenience and traffic nightmares. It's costing a lot of money to host and it's costing cash strapped City a lot of money. The Feds are picking up part of the tab, but either way it's coming out of our taxes.
I'm sure it's huring the local economy as many residents have decided to leave the city during the convention and many tourist have decided to avoid visiting. This loss is definately not being made up by the people in town for the convention.
Tha't my 2 cents.
Saturday, August 28, 2004
I was keeping the peace today at the pro-choice demonstation today in Brooklyn. The NYPD had a large force for the protest demonstration but it turned out to be peaceful and the demonstrators were well behaved and thankfully friendly toward cops.
I did come to realize that hippie chicks don't have nice legs. Maybe it's from years of hacky sack mishaps or bug bites camping at Phish concerts. Who knows, all I know is hippie chicks don't have nice legs. Out of the many thousand hippie type girls I looked at only 2 had nice legs. I repeat... ONLY TWO!!
I did come to realize that hippie chicks don't have nice legs. Maybe it's from years of hacky sack mishaps or bug bites camping at Phish concerts. Who knows, all I know is hippie chicks don't have nice legs. Out of the many thousand hippie type girls I looked at only 2 had nice legs. I repeat... ONLY TWO!!
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I Can See Clearly Now.
I met a women last night who said, she thinks the RNC chose NYC for their convention in a city and state they won't win for 2 reasons.
1. Looney left wing freaks protesting and causing trouble will turn mid-America against the democrats.
2. The RNC doesn't care if a terrorist attack hit NYC because they vote democrat but a terrorist attack in NYC would help them in mid-America.
Dawn over at Clareified has a great post about the RNC in NYC. My favorite part:
The President has confessed that he doesn't read newspapers, he doesn't do press conferences and his campaign has ensured that audience members sign loyalty oaths and are friendly Bush supporters. He has even managed to create a no-protest zone throughout the entire "city" of Crawford, Texas.
I met a women last night who said, she thinks the RNC chose NYC for their convention in a city and state they won't win for 2 reasons.
1. Looney left wing freaks protesting and causing trouble will turn mid-America against the democrats.
2. The RNC doesn't care if a terrorist attack hit NYC because they vote democrat but a terrorist attack in NYC would help them in mid-America.
Dawn over at Clareified has a great post about the RNC in NYC. My favorite part:
The President has confessed that he doesn't read newspapers, he doesn't do press conferences and his campaign has ensured that audience members sign loyalty oaths and are friendly Bush supporters. He has even managed to create a no-protest zone throughout the entire "city" of Crawford, Texas.
CLARIFICATION - The title of this post (I can see clearly now) is referring to the post on Clarified NOT to what the women said. I do not believe reason #2 was a consideration for the RNC when they chose NYC. But I do think that a terrorist attack would help Bush win the election. Unlike Spain we are not a nation of appeasing cowards and an attack against us will have people support what is perceived as the war president who is tougher on terrorism.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Swift Boat Vets for what now?
Swift Boat commander ends his dignified silence to challenge the undignified.
Before now, wanting to put memories of war and killing behind him, Rood had refused all requests for interviews on the subject, including from his own newspaper.
"But Kerry's critics, armed with stories I know to be untrue, have charged that the accounts of what happened were overblown." he wrote.
"The critics have taken pains to say they're not trying to cast doubts on the merit of what others did, but their version of events has splashed doubt on all of us.
"It's gotten harder and harder for those of us who were there to listen to accounts we know to be untrue, especially when they come from people who were not there," he added.
Team Bush in collusion?
Mr. Kerry called them "a front for the Bush campaign" - a charge the campaign denied.
I report, you decide.
Swift Boat commander ends his dignified silence to challenge the undignified.
Before now, wanting to put memories of war and killing behind him, Rood had refused all requests for interviews on the subject, including from his own newspaper.
"But Kerry's critics, armed with stories I know to be untrue, have charged that the accounts of what happened were overblown." he wrote.
"The critics have taken pains to say they're not trying to cast doubts on the merit of what others did, but their version of events has splashed doubt on all of us.
"It's gotten harder and harder for those of us who were there to listen to accounts we know to be untrue, especially when they come from people who were not there," he added.
Team Bush in collusion?
Mr. Kerry called them "a front for the Bush campaign" - a charge the campaign denied.
I report, you decide.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
SWIFT BOAT BLUES
So it turns out that none of the "swift boat veterans for truth" who claim they served with Kerry in this political ad actually served on a boat with Kerry. It does turn out however, that all the swift boat veterans that were on boats with Kerry support him now. Further, one of the Veterans retracted his statements used in the ad and called them a mistake.
I think it's sad and pathetic that people have stooped so low in attacking Kerrys service in Vietnam that they will claim Kerry shot a running Viet Cong soldier in the back and therefore does not deserve a medal. How convenient to leave out that the Viet Cong Soldier was carrying an RPG, a fact conveniently left out by Kerry opponents. I suspect that these Kerry attack dogs have no problem with carpet bombing civilian areas during a war but if a Democratic Presidential nominee shoots an ememy soldier in the back they cry foul?? oh please.
Anyway all the soldiers that WERE THERE with Kerry on that day say Kerry did the right thing by shooting the RPG toting VC soldier. Now who you going to believe, soldiers that served our country and were actually there with Kerry or some armchair pundits with a smear Kerry agenda?
So it turns out that none of the "swift boat veterans for truth" who claim they served with Kerry in this political ad actually served on a boat with Kerry. It does turn out however, that all the swift boat veterans that were on boats with Kerry support him now. Further, one of the Veterans retracted his statements used in the ad and called them a mistake.
I think it's sad and pathetic that people have stooped so low in attacking Kerrys service in Vietnam that they will claim Kerry shot a running Viet Cong soldier in the back and therefore does not deserve a medal. How convenient to leave out that the Viet Cong Soldier was carrying an RPG, a fact conveniently left out by Kerry opponents. I suspect that these Kerry attack dogs have no problem with carpet bombing civilian areas during a war but if a Democratic Presidential nominee shoots an ememy soldier in the back they cry foul?? oh please.
Anyway all the soldiers that WERE THERE with Kerry on that day say Kerry did the right thing by shooting the RPG toting VC soldier. Now who you going to believe, soldiers that served our country and were actually there with Kerry or some armchair pundits with a smear Kerry agenda?
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
They always wave at me
It seems the FDNY VS NYPD saga continues. I am always hearing about this bitter rivalry between the FDNY and the NYPD in the media. From my experience I haven't witnessed it. I know they got into a scuffle at the world trade center site which led to the arrest of some firefighters. But those were very emotional times, so that kind of behavior is not the norm. In my experience cops and firefighters get along fine and the rivalry is good natured. There is a saying among cops that goes: "Firefighers are perps who put out fires"
Meaning the only reason cops respond to fires is to make sure the firefighters don't steal.
I have never watched the show NYPD 24/7. So don't really know what happened but I think the FDNY is being a little too touchy.
This part is complete hogwash.
"The firefighters union was outraged, and published an ad claiming the lieutenant was "handpicked" by the NYPD as its "poster boy" — and suggesting Kelly was behind a smear campaign. "
Anyway, when they see me in uniform they always wave when they drive by in their big shiny trucks.
It seems the FDNY VS NYPD saga continues. I am always hearing about this bitter rivalry between the FDNY and the NYPD in the media. From my experience I haven't witnessed it. I know they got into a scuffle at the world trade center site which led to the arrest of some firefighters. But those were very emotional times, so that kind of behavior is not the norm. In my experience cops and firefighters get along fine and the rivalry is good natured. There is a saying among cops that goes: "Firefighers are perps who put out fires"
Meaning the only reason cops respond to fires is to make sure the firefighters don't steal.
I have never watched the show NYPD 24/7. So don't really know what happened but I think the FDNY is being a little too touchy.
This part is complete hogwash.
"The firefighters union was outraged, and published an ad claiming the lieutenant was "handpicked" by the NYPD as its "poster boy" — and suggesting Kelly was behind a smear campaign. "
Anyway, when they see me in uniform they always wave when they drive by in their big shiny trucks.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
