A Fallen Protector

Police officers are never fully trusted or appreciated.

Here in Indianapolis, we have one who has been trying to use the legal system to wrangle out of a drunken driving charge while on duty, one that resulted in the death of an innocent man and serious injuries to two others.

We have had rogue undercover narcotics cops raiding suspects' homes, taking money found, keeping the drugs and selling them.

We have seen overzealous cops who have arrested people who may have deserved to be roughed up because they thought they could whip the officer during a police action, but in no way deserved to be pummeled mercilessly well after they had been neutralized.

It's just like any other urban police force in the nation here in the Midwest, we have some who lie, cheat, and steal, all behind the cover of a badge. In the midst of their corruptions, we all know well that it is these cops that usually make the news.

But for the most part, the majority of police officers on the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department are people like anyone else. They are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and many good friends to other people they know. They get up everyday and work hard to make the place they live in safer, from people who care nothing for others or their properties.

Is someone breaking into your house? Who do you call?

Someone stole your car? Who do you call?

The list can go on, but the fact remains that these people volunteer to put their lives on the line everyday. They put on their uniform, walk out that door to go to work, not knowing what they will face on that given day. Their enemy wears no uniform, therefore they cannot be easily identified.

Last Sunday, one such officer did just that.

He woke up to the alarm, got ready, got dressed, and left his home. While out early that morning, he made a traffic stop. It turned out the car had been stolen. As Officer David Moore approached the car he had stopped, a man jumped out and shot him four times, quite possibly a couple of times after he was down and unconscious.

Since that time, he has been hanging on by a thread in a local hospital. After he was stabilized enough to get an MRI to determine the extent of his injuries, it was learned that nothing could be done to save his life. So the family had to make preparations to donate his organs and take him off life support. They had to make a lifetime's worth of decisions in the course of the last 24 hours, for a tragic event that just happened three days ago.

This morning before the sun came up on the city, IMPD Officer David Moore died. Mr. Moore died because someone didn't want to go to jail for something he knew he did wrong. He died because a bad man shot him for doing his job.

No charges have been filed yet in the case, but the suspect is in jail for robbing a Dollar General Store in the ensuing moments after the shooting. He did this, knowing the entire police force would be distracted at the scene where he had done his dirty lowlife deed.

My sources tell me they are building a good case against the depraved bastard who perpetrated this act. I just wish they could put me in a room with him for a few minutes, and go get themselves a cup of coffee. I wouldn't kill him, I promise.


ADDENDUM:

By all accounts I have heard for a variety of sources, this guy was one of the good ones. Check out the video and/or read the story at this link.

Recommended Reading

PYY isn't the biggest blog on the web, nor will it ever be. But just because your bloghost here does not adequately promote this site, does not mean we haven't had our share of intelligent readers.

So for you all who make this a daily or weekly stop, go over the Althouse and give this essay a good read.

HT: GM Roper (he didn't post on it, I nabbed it off of a Facebook posting)

Putting The Moscow Attack Into Perspective

The world is once again aghast at the carnage brought on by a simple, bomb-toting coward. But should this really come as a shock?

Take a look at a little timeline of attacks in Russia.

I counted 23 attacks on this list that was so nicely put together by the Associated Press. I counted 20 of them since 9/11.

We all know that Russia is very instrumental in helping Iran develop nuclear technology. We all know that Russia has been supportive of anti-Semitic forces in the Middle East. One would think that it would be enough to garner some favor in the jihadist world that includes Hezbollah, Hamas, and countries that sponsor such messengers of hatred and vile influence.

But it hasn't. Has it?

Until the civilized world can come to terms with the fact that radical jihadists (and the states that sponsor them) have no friends (other than other blood-thirsty killers who use violence to advance their warped and twisted theology), no nation will be safe.

Today's attack on innocent and defenseless people goes far to prove this claim, quite well. It only goes to show there are enemy forces who care nothing for any other culture, no matter how much that culture's government kisses the feet, rings, and asses of evil men.

Another Blast From the Past

What would you do if you won a million dollars or more in the lottery?



First, I would have one hell of a party:



Then, I'd pay everything off, save the rest in an annuity, and start banking everything I could for the next few years.

If I could do that, I'd retire early.

Oh well, that's why it's known as a dream for a buck.

Enjoy

Friday Funnies

Those awkward moments.

Awkward Situation Room 1 from RightChange on Vimeo.

Clearly, he's an empty suit.

Rooms For Rent

Trailer for sale or rent. Rooms to let, 50 cents. It's just a song, right?

From the things that "irritate the hell out of you" department comes this little tidbit. It is an op-ed from Britain's Guardian newspaper and it starts off like this:

There are two housing crises in Britain. One of them is obvious and familiar: the walloping shortfall in supply. Households are forming at roughly twice the rate at which new homes are being built. In England alone, 650,000 homes are classed as overcrowded. Many other people are desperate to move into their own places, but find themselves stuck. Yet the new homes the government says we need – 5.8m by 2033 – threaten to mash our landscapes and overload the environment.

The other crisis is scarcely mentioned. I stumbled across it while researching last week's column, buried on page 33 of a government document about another issue. It's growing even faster than the first crisis – at a rate that's hard to comprehend. Yet you'll seldom hear a squeak about it in the press, in parliament, in government departments or even in the voluntary sector. Given its political sensitivity, perhaps that's not surprising.

The issue is surplus housing – the remarkable growth of space that people don't need. Between 2003 and 2008 (the latest available figures), there was a 45% increase in the number of under-occupied homes in England. The definition of under-occupied varies, but it usually means that households have at least two bedrooms more than they require. This category now accounts for over half the homes in which single people live, and almost a quarter of those used by larger households. Nearly 8m homes – 37% of the total housing stock – are officially under-occupied.

At this point, we have to know where this one is leading.

And it does.

Here, we have a leftist op-ed journalist who is well-known for his radical stances on Global Warming, making a suggestion that is not unlike others who view the rich as evil, greedy, and worthy of having their wealth redistributed. George Monbiot has written some pretty hard left stuff in the past, but this teeters on the edge of insanity for many reasons.

Monbiot (maybe this is where the term moonbat came from) is suggesting that owners of houses with spare bedrooms not being used, be forced to rent out those rooms to people they may or may not know, because Britain is having a housing crisis. One reason this is so ridiculous is because it does not take into account why there is a crisis to begin with.

Muslims are procreating ten times greater than non-Muslims, which is doing much to create a higher demand for housing. One question we must ask in this scenario, who decides who gets to rent?

Let's say a law is passed and an empty nested owner of a house with two extra bedrooms is forced to rent them out. Will he be subject to anti-discrimination laws that will prevent him from renting to someone who does not share his overall belief system? What if a radical Muslim and his hijab wearing wife wants to rent one of his rooms to live in? If the owner balks, will he be subject to a lawsuit?

If he does decide to rent to them, will he be subjected to respecting the Muslims' belief systems so that they are not offended? Can he cook pork in his own house, or must he refrain? What if the call to prayer is during his favorite TV show? Must he refrain from watching so as not to offend the Muslims?

What about his religious symbols in his own house? Will he be forced to hide Bibles, crosses, or anything else associated with his own beliefs?

I am sure this sounds good to a select few people, who basically have no concept of what it means to think things out before they offer up stupid solutions like this. But when you start to play it out with some critical thinking, it becomes a whole new ballpark. More than anything else, it becomes an issue of whether or not government has a right to dictate to its citizenry how they must manage their own property.

Fresh Faces: Herman Cain

For those of you who do not know him, there is a good article on Herman Cain. It's a well-written synopsis of someone who has worked very hard throughout his life, someone who has made his mark as being an innovative solution man. He has the brilliance to come up with great ideas and the courage to implement them.

For those of you who do not know him, you may get to know him better over the course of the next year, especially if you live in Iowa. He has an exploratory committee already formed and we may know very soon what his intentions are



Once the decision had been made to proceed, there is a good chance that he may find himself to be the front runner in the GOP nomination process. Staying there may prove difficult, but then again once people get to know him I think many will like him.

Certainly lots of people will be enamored with his sincerity. They may also be impressed by his business acumen and his overall mindset. And that includes preserving a nation. He may actually be the man who can truly fix what is wrong with Washington, not just campaign on it.

If it turns out he is not be the best choice, we'll all know when we know.

But I would bet that if he's not, he will be able to work for the right person who may garner more support than him---if that person has a lick of sense. I think he is more than able to serve in some capacity in another person's Administration, if called upon by the right person.

NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview

Baltimore at Pittsburgh--Sat. 4:30P

Back in the days of the Steeler dynasty, when they won 4 out of 6 Super Bowls, they were almost unstoppable. 1975 was the first year they won it and after many years of being lousy, we were happy for them. But after the second title, they ceased to be an underdog feel good story. Since those days, I have never really been a Steeler fan.

And....I don't much like Baltimore either. But there is one thing this game will definitely be, a hard hitting old-style physical football game. Both teams are mirror images of each other.

They both like to run & pound the ball at you offensively, with smart and well-selected passing off of the run. Defensively, they like to intimidate opponents and hit receivers very hard. Both, stop the run well and both, can make big plays on either side of the ball.

Pick: Can't

Green Bay at Atlanta--Sat. 8:00P

This will be the most interesting game of the day and is also a bit of a question mark.

Can Aaron Rodger back up his performance last weekend?

Can Atlanta stand the spotlight of the big stage?

When Green Bay plays well, they are tough to beat. Ask the Pats, they were having more trouble with the Packers than almost any other team, without actually losing. To shake the Philip Rivers syndrome (based on success, rather than attitude: in the latter case, Rivers wins it hands down), he must have another "game of his life". He must direct and engineer a win against a worthy opponent.

One of two truly consistent and balanced teams in the NFL, Atlanta has been able to slip in under the radar. The media hasn't covered them with any real enthusiasm. It's been all AFC, with much of it because of the Jets and their mouths.

If they play like they have played all year, they stand the better chance of winning this ball game. If they get nervous under the lights, in the big tent, they could find themselves exiting. I think this is Matt Ryan and Company's chance to assert themselves as the heir to the Patriots of this past decade. They have to mix the run with the pass evenly and stop the Packers offense from getting into the end zone.

They have to win this one. Anything less than a win this weekend would remind us of the Braves.

Pick: I am going out on a limb here, and picking Atlanta.

Seattle at Chicago--Sun. 1:00P

Everyone loves a Cinderella story. It makes people happy.

Seattle is this season's installment of the rag tag little lady, who has no business dancing with society's upper crust. People are happy, especially the sports media who are not assigned to cover the Jets and whatever asinine statements one of them may make, over the course of the week's hype.

But a team with a losing record going into Soldier Field in January, cannot really expect to have much success against the Bears. Can they?

Carroll is a great coach on paper, he knows his Xs and Os. If you think the Seahawk players can play with the same intensity and can execute like they did against the Saints, you are damned right they can win this game.

The question is, do they have the talent? Can they go on the road in a cold cold stadium and implement what promises to be the better game plan.... against a Chicago team that has some vulnerable spots?

If they studied the Patriots game on film, they will know what to do. If they do what Carroll and his staff have drawn up, I think they can win it.

Pick: Way out on a limb here--- Seattle.

New York Jets at New England--Sun. 4:30P

The Patriots are the most complete team in the AFC and will need to be knocked off in the friendly confines of Foxboro, in January. Not many teams can claim that distinction. And I doubt that the mouthy Jets can do it.

The media will hype this into this big showdown between two elite teams. But I think the overrated Jets are going to see more of what they got last time they played.

NY barely beat the banged up Colts' and their second and third stringers. How can anyone really think they can challenge a well oiled machine?

The only chance the Jesters have is if Tom Brady falls on ice before the game or aliens abduct him. In this case, they would have a small chance of eking out a close victory.....maybe. All categories favor the Pats and I expect them to be ready to send these blowhards packing, all the way back to the Big Apple with their pride hurt and their tails between their legs.

I am tired of hearing about swagger and confidence. Any team that has to mentally motivate themselves by making unprofessional statements to the media is not that good of a team. In this league, legends are not made in the minds of the coaches or the players. They are made on the field, where the media cannot spin it.

New England has been this past decade's dynasty and a worthy rivalry of the Colts, over the course of this time. This puts them in the category of the 49ers of the 80s, the Steelers of the 70s, and the Packers of the 60s. I expect to see at least one more good run for a title this year.

Pick: New England

Another Blast From the Past

For those sad moments that really make no sense:




Is there something written somewhere that says that it HAS to be this way?

Irony And Contempt

I have forgone the usual Friday Funnies format for this week, due to the nature of the tragedy that the Progressives have used for their own political advantage.

The only funny thing bout this is that this strategy is backfiring, just as playing the race card did in the days leading up to the 2010 election. Irony often breeds irony, and contempt breeds more contempt. Please note that they are doing it to themselves. In all of this, they had a golden opportunity to show some element of unity and serious compassion....and they didn't.

One such incident that can be seen as a trace bit amusing in the aftermath was an interview by one of the Left's most rabid dog of all, Ed Schultz. Knowing his tendency to fly off the handle at his staff, one can only imagine how he must have handled this interview afterward....when, he was using this very show as a platform for gun control and found out that one of the heroes of this tragedy was a person who firmly believes in packing a pistol:



(HT: ITHM)

Ouch. That had to hurt.

It couldn't have been the least bit easy to back out of that one, especially after calling the guy a hero.

Another humorous scene was this one, where Neal Boortz who was on talk radio long before this arrogant CNN hack was born:



(HT: FORE LEFT)

Imagine, here is a man who thinks he is a well-rounded TV news journalist, who is up to speed on the world around him.... and he doesn't even know the past words used by a man he was 95% likely to have voted for in 2008.

No, folks, there has been nothing humorous about this senseless act at all. It's not something I feel should be joked about, in any way. And certainly, we all bear some responsibility in keeping the debate centered on policy and out of the directions of the persons we disagree with.

But you have to hand it to the Left, they are not the brightest bulbs in the socket. If they really wanted to marginalize figures like Sarah Palin, they could just ignore her.

But they don't. This is why it their seething hatred is so overt and out of control.

And by tying her to this shooting in some warped way, they have only made her part of the story....when they could have been singing Kumbaya with those they disagree with for valuable photo ops, to be used at a future date and time (Nov 2012). But they chose the same old divisive path, which leads to lower approval ratings and less people in their camp.

This is just another example of the textbook definition of idiocy.