“Papers please. We are Der Staat. Acquiesce to the wishes of the Schutzstaffel, or face the consequences.”

Whatever happened to the Constitution? Those of you defending the arrest of individuals for the non-crime of “failing to obey a lawful order” are simply parroting right-wing political correctness. Our founders would have NEVER stood still for such treatment!

And, no I’m not a Lefty bed-wetter, I’m a libertarian wondering how in the world “conservative” Americans can support police state policies.

It is an unfortunate fact that through bad judgment or bad luck, police occasionally execute people. This is way beyond “stupid”, but inappropriate use of force, should never dissuade one from asserting one’s rights. If that were the case, we would still be living in a monarchy.

N:

I am not fighting with anyone but the trolls who like to fling feeces like Stassie. I can understand hi obvious lack of self esteem and his need to boast his ego by resorting to drive by insults. His continuation only demonstrates his infantilism. When he ceases his odious behavior I am very content to ignore him as most others here do.

But if I see two people trying to force a door, unless I know them both I immediately pick up the phone to call the cops.

For a supposedly smart guy, Gates seems to lack common sense.

If a police officer stops you in the reasonable – even if mistaken – belief that you have committed a crime, the officer is authorized, under statute and abundant case law (see Graham v. Connor, for example), to use reasonable force, including deadly force if necessary, in order to effect an arrest, overcome resistance, or prevent escape. Protest if you must, but be prepared for the consequences.

The “no-knock” warrant scenario you portray involves an entirely different set of circumstances, and I happen to agree with you that they are unwise and unsafe. In fact, here in California no such warrants are authorized. The death of Kathryn Johnston was indeed a travesty, and you won’t hear me defend the cops responsible for it.

My guess is that out-in-front racism would become fashionable on the Left.

Only?! Well, I guess when one poll awhile back revealed that something like 95% of black people in America disapproved of George Bush, 75%, by contrast, can be labeled as “only.” As for that 88%, I bet in reality it’s a bit higher.

The lack of ideological diversity in the African-American community is grotesque, pathetic and self-paralyzing.

I’ve often mused what much of the black populace of the US would be like today if it were instantly transformed from predominantly “lefty” (opposition to same-sex marriage notwithstanding) to predominantly conservative, or even centrist. The common sense that would suddenly start washing over that part of American life would be like an epiphany, and I bet various social and economic weaknesses that have long plagued a high percentage of black America would start to melt away.