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Dec 19, 2012 at 4:00 am
Katherine Olejnik and Matt Duran Have Not Been Charged with Any Crime, and Yet They Have Been Locked Up for Three Months and Counting
Brian Taylor
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800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
Just like Richard Nixon.
Your points would be interesting if you could justify them, but instead you ignore opposing argument and do nothing but ad-hominem. No truth can come of that.
Truth can emerge from argument, and it's a beautiful thing, but you are subverting that process and turning everything you touch to shit. There's no point in reading you any further, though it seemed promising for a time.
Just like Richard Nixon.
Your points would be interesting if you could justify them, but instead you ignore opposing argument and do nothing but ad-hominem. No truth can come of that.
Truth can emerge from argument, and it's a beautiful thing, but you are subverting that process and turning everything you touch to shit. There's no point in reading you any further, though it seemed promising for a time.
amicuscuria.com/wordpress
You can read related articles to this and how Tony Overman, a photojournalist for the Daily Olympian was assaulted by these same elements on
amicuscuria.com/wordpress
But that's neither here nor there. I was reading on the American Bar Association about the federal grand jury system, and they had some meaningful bits (see http://www.abanow.org/2010/03/faqs-about…
"In the federal system, the courts have ruled that the grand jury has extraordinary investigative powers that have been developed over the years since the 1950s. This wide, sweeping, almost unrestricted power is the cause of much of the criticism. The power is virtually in complete control of the prosecutor, and is pretty much left to his or her good faith."
As a systems engineer, I think this is a poor way to setup any process. Basically, it sounds like the grand jury process is available to prosecutors with an ax to grind... as well as being available prosecutors who will use it carefully and thoughtfully.
I did notice Mr. G mentioned that there has never been a movement to abolish the grand jury system in the United States. I don't know whether that's true or not... but that really isn't important. Let's start now! Let's assess the use of the grand jury in this case, and others, and look for flaws in the process. Mr. G's (and others') opinion of these two individuals is hardly relevant to assessing the usefulness and ethical implications of the grand jury process.
You can read a more in depth and (hopefully) balanced investigation of 'their' core beliefs at amicuscuria.com/wordpress
I've taken the time to seek what (A)narchists believe in and found the term to be so broad (and shallow) as to defy meaningful descriptions other than they're unhappy with hierarchy, state, and authority. Most (not all) are unhappy with capitalism, corporations, private property, and even the notion of individual rights. The screeds posted on various Puget Sound (A)narchist web sites are so contradictory or vacuuous and often turgid as to shed little light on your question.
One thing, however, stands out: The Grand Jury Resisters, whether they realize it or not, have stood up for a worthy principle--not acting as a conduit for government invasion into our personal lives interfering, as it does, with out inalienable right to belief, association, peaceful assembly, and bringing just grievances to our overseers.
Like Mr. G, I've been reviled by (A)narchists as a 'neo-nazi' by no less than Leah Plante (the now 'suspect' one-time poster-girl for their cause) for attempting to report, in my capacity as a photojournalist, on public events involving these violently radical street elements.
The facts belie your assertion the perpetrators of Seattle's May Day street violence are being pursued for trivial acts. I do, however, agree May Day is a pretext for a much larger government hidden agenda. I'm not certain even the federal prosecutor grasps this when obeying her/his marching orders from on high.
The May Day property damage was not insubstantial. People (photojournalists) were assaulted and injured, requiring medical attention. Area (A)narchist websites have repeatedly posted 'fatwas' urging the assault, injury, stalking and harassment of photojournalists such as the Daily Olympian's Tony Overman. Citizens were victimized for nothing more than parking their vehicles on the streets, finding them smashed/destroyed upon their return.
Private property rights [f(*)ck your stuff!] are contemptuously dismissed by this crowd and they urge theft/vandalism of the property of those casually seen as being more privileged than themselves. All in all, looking for the sunshine in this group is like looking for the orange dropped in the urinal. Taken to the logical limit of their own ideology, if they had/acquired any REAL power, we'd have to kill them!
Someone, neither of these two, broke a window. Yes it's vandalism and they should be arrested...but these two in jail did not do it. Were it something violent, and they did know who did it, for sure they should be held. But no, the is the government digging their heels in and demanding information from people not involved. We have a lot of actual dangerous criminals and mentally ill people who need addressing before we go locking up (on our tax dollar) people who did NOTHING.
Nonetheless, it still isn't appropriate for a prosecutor to EVER ask questions about anyone's political beliefs.
If there was damage and some injuries, the issue is that harm was done...it doesn't make it WORSE that the harm was done in the name of an ideology.
As an AK resident myself, I'm guessing that his experiences on his visits are the result of him stumbling out of the airport mouth-first with idiotic questions about Palin, Deadliest Catch, and dogsled races; and then believing his suspicions confirmed when no intelligent local bothers to engage him in conversation.
We see tourists pull similar shit all the time, and of course such dumb tourists are only going to interact with dumb Alaskans. The rest of us are either avoiding you or laughing at you.
That said, AK's status as a red state does indicate that more than half the population is idiotic (including Parnell and Palin), but MrG has more in common with those idiots than he realizes if the childish nonsense in his last few posts is any indication.
Here, I'll put it even more simply for you: dumb attracts dumb, wherever you go.
"I know you are but what am I?" is the best you can do? Well, I guess I shouldn't expect more of people whose formal education tends to stop after the eighth grade.
Maybe afterwards you can share your profound insights on how Chinese people have slanty eyes and French people pronounce their "R's" funny. I can see all that there fancy post-8th-grade education wasn't wasted on YOU.
Why do you see the discussion here as being about Seattle(or other)"progressives" or "hipsters" or whomever, rather than about the individuals being discussed in the story?
We aren't the ones in jail. They are.
So why do we, the people you disagree with here, matter so much to you, "Mister"? Are we really the point here?
Look at posts 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35 (yours), 36, 38, 43, 44, 46, 48, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 65, 67, 68, 71, 75, 76, 77, 79 (also yours), 80 (yours), 81 (yours), 86 (yours), 87 (yours), 110, 115, 116, 117, 120, 121, 122, 125, 128, 129, 131 (yours), and 133.
All of those comment talk about more than just the two individuals in the story. But of course, since most of them are from "progressives," that's perfectly okay with you.
Do you even realize what a stupid piece of shit you really are? Nah, you don't. Neither does your cousin Sarah.
I'm totally opposed to Palin, dude. And you can't hold the entire state responsible for her.
And the posts you discussed were about ideas, not about the egos and personalities of any of us. So it still wasn't cool for you to be obsessed with attacking the other posters. We aren't the point here. What is being done to these two people, and the larger ideas at play, are the point.
Besides, what did any "progressives" ever do to you? Did any of us, in practical terms, ever make your life worse in any measurable way? If so, how?
Why is personal animus such a driving factor with you?
Are you saying those who disagree with you on this are secretly reactionary? That you, somehow, are the TRUE progressive? Or that the term "progressive" is a euphemism for something far more insidious and unsavory? Are you implying that we're secret CPUSA members or something? Or closeted jihadists? Just SAY whatever the hell it is you mean. Enoughalready with the "we all KNOW what I'm talking about here" tone. Nobody knows what you mean at all.
Geez, what morons you and your Cousin Sarah Baby are. Every time I think I might have gone over the top with the insults, you show me that I haven't even begun to go far enough.
Quotation marks can be used to indicate skepticism, doubt, and irony. "Progressives" are all in favor of these things except when they are the targets, at which point they turn into disingenuous literalists who claim they don't understand what's happening. Do you even realize what a stupid hypocrite you are? I guess not. After all, you're an Alaskan, and not even your fellow "progressives" respect you.
And what issues are there that you believe that "progressives" aren't progressive about when they affect their own lives?
Also, what would you describe yourself as, politically? Where would you place yourself on the spectrum, grid, or whatever?
(in some cases, actually, you might have a point, but you need to be precise about that).
And you still haven't said what exactly it is that those you refer to with the "p word" did that seems to have inspired such personal animosity from you. Did some of us do something that did you, personally, some sort of harm? That caused you to sacrifice in the name of "p word" ideas while exempting them from any sacrifices?
Just trying to understand what put this particular chip on your shoulder.
Oh, and dude, I don't really take myself all that seriously. I'm willing to admit it when I'm genuinely wrong on something, and to listen to legitimate opposing views. But those need to be framed, to be taken seriously, as "here's where your wrong and here's what might work better", not as "you're idiots and you're all full of shit". Insults aren't discussion.
And before you poing it out, I'd like to apologize for the posts when I got a bit personal towards you upthread. I was out of line. Sorry and my bad. Seriously.
I'm actually to the LEFT of most of the people you probably think of as "progressives" in the smug, elitist sense. So don't assume you've got me pegged. Juat saying.
In reality, they are blatantly, visibly, and outrageously corrupt. The "progressivism" and "environmentalism" in Seattle is almost entirely a hipster pose. Those who support these "progressives" are generally the sleep walking voters of Seattle, who are terribly served by all of the media outlets in the city and therefore don't see what actually happens.
That's the short story. Seattle is a good place to live but only in spite of the people who run it, and most of the eligible voters. My own politics: Pissed-off lunch bucket Democrat with declining patience for the shit that goes on here.
And the people in this comments section are actually the opponents of those establishment types that you are(rightly, in my opinion)calling out.
The anarchists, as I see it(and I'm not an anarchist, although they have some valid points on the use of voluntary social organization and mutual assistance in certain cases)are actually fighting FOR "lunchbox Democratic" types such as yourself...in other words, for the working class and against corporate power.
Just wanted to put that out there to think about.
If they want out, they'll answer the goddamned questions. Otherwise, they can sit there until hell freezes over. I won't be surprised if the prosecutor convenes another grand jury when this one's term is over, and then another, and then another, and then another.
Fuck with the federal government, and this is what happens.
Unbunch your panties and listen up, you little shit-talking pissant.
On behalf of all us hard-working, freedom loving, Palin despising Alaskans, we invite you to take a long walk on a short dock at Fishermen's Terminal and come discuss the difference between Words and Action. Either you will show some respect and apologize, or get Knocked the Fuck Out.
Hope your pussy ass job includes a dental plan.
Regards,
the Beast of Bristol Bay
My favorite was the guy who assumed these people were 60's radical hippies (sure, they're what, 70 year-olds?), followed by still more who call them "kids."
I feel so privileged to be among you True Believers. Good job.
... who take ourselves waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too seriously!
Pot, meet kettle.