No Stone Left Unturned

It is good to know that no stone will be left unturned in the quest to exorcise racist language from public discourse, especially with super word codebreakers like Zennie62 on the job. He tells us that Erick Erickson, writing at RedState has “used a word that’s has a totally racist connection to describe President Obama’s delivery: ‘cocky.'”

Totally racist. It conjurs up images of white sheets and burning crosses every time I hear it. What was Erick thinking?

Yes, Zennie62 claims that “cocky” is a racial code word. Why? Because it was once used by a racist.

“In a rather wild thread called “Politically Correct Racism” [in the StormFront.org forum], Valhalladream let loose with the “C” word on Valentines Day, 2009 (there must be something wrong because Valhalladream should have been out with his girlfriend, right?) Valhalladream writes:

‘And the problem is – is that we are just so used to it. We laugh about it – shrug it off. Time has come to get just as “touchy” as them. Oh, and you know the election which was supposed to bring the country together in one big kum-by-ya love in and it will be like mixing coffee and cream and we will all “get along” and live happily ever after? NOT! I have been so much more openly antagonistic towards blacks – especially the ones who think they own the freakin’ world now because of that black sob in MY white house. They are getting really cocky. [I believe emphasis added by Zennie63] One crackhead in his pimp-mobile blocked an intersection and I opened my window and said “You better move that car you black ba_ _ _ _ _d!” He looked at me I think in shock and didn’t know how to react. I would have never done that a year ago. I don’t care. They need to be slammed back'”

Valhalladream’s rant is vile but that doesn’t mean that any of the words he chose to use are inherently racist; they are racist because his intent is racist. It’s difficult to know if Zennie62 really believes his ludicrous assertion, although I believe it’s much more likely that he just wants anyone who feels inclined to criticize President Obama to, you know, shut up.

This is intended to be paralyzing. Using this logic, every English word with a negative meaning  is no longer valid for use in discussing African-Americans because it’s surely been used at one time or another with racist intent.

The claims of racism coming out of the left are becoming increasingly absurd and obviously baseless but that’s okay with me. The sillier they get, the more harmless their claims become.

Do Government Bureaucrats Have The Brains They Were Born With?

Honestly, sometimes one has to wonder. Take the case of Sal Esposito. Sal applied to be excused from jury duty and was denied. Sal’s situation? He’s a cat.

Okay, I’ll give you that Sal’s owners share some responsibility for this situation; they should have just written, “Sal is a cat,” on the original application to be excused. Although you’d think that not speaking English would be enough to disqualify him. Maybe this is a partial explanation for the sad state of our legal system.

Mikey Hicks, Terrorist. Yeah, watch out for Mikey...he's a mean one.

Or take the case of Mikey Hicks. He’s the 8-year-old who’s subjected to full pat-down searches each time he flies because he shares a name with someone on a government watch list. Mikey doesn’t like being touched in “certain spots.” Who can blame him?

It’s enough to make you think that IQ testing prior to employment with a government agency might not be a bad idea. Of course, that discounts the theory that these people were once of average intelligence, their brains now turned to jelly through constant exposure to government regulations. I can see how that might happen.

These stories serve as illustrations as to why I don’t want a government bureaucrat anywhere near my health care; I’ll take an insurance company bureaucrat any day. Why? Because when the government flubs a call, you have very little recourse. Take Mikey; he’s been getting special attention at airports since he was two years old! It’s hard to believe that in the ensuing six years, his situation couldn’t have been flagged in a (hopefully) sophisticated database.

Medicare already denies an alarming percentage of cases for, among other things, not being “medically necessary or reasonable.” Even though your doctor, obviously, thought otherwise. Either that  or he just views frivolous amputations as a profit center.

Because People Don’t Kill People; Guns Kill People

LALALAND – A teen was killed by a gun in a shooting Saturday afternoon inside a local mall, officials said.

The gun remains at large, but a police spokesman said investigators anticipated identifying it soon.

The gun is described as a silver-colored pistol that may have had a gang sign engraved on the grip. It was last seen fleeing the scene.

At least four other guns were detained and questioned about the shooting, but were subsequently released.

As police searched for the gun Saturday night, they allowed store employees and customers remaining in the mall to exit in small groups. After the search was completed, police said the gun may have taken a human hostage and forced him or her to help it escape.

Witnesses said they heard at least three shots fired around 3:45 p.m. near the mall’s food court. The gunfire sparked immediate panic, and people started running for the exits. Police and medics raced to the scene, lights flashing.

It was not clear exactly what prompted the shooting, but witnesses said the gun may have been involved in a verbal altercation with the victim prior to the gunfire.

The gun is believed to have acted alone.

(Note: This entry was inspired by the inane updates posted here.)

---

Update: The comments on this ABC anti-gun-leaning ariticle are definitely worth a read.