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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Friday, May 10, 2024

Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday. Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, who was based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, was in his off-base apartment in Fort Walton Beach when the shooting happened on May 3. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said in a statement that Fortson was on a Facetime call with a woman at the time of the encounter.

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The crossroads of the 2nd amendment and being african american.

#1 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-05-09 06:53 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

Guess the state of 'Fl-horrid-duh' doesn't recognize the castle doctrine or the 2nd amendment for black folks.

Nobody could have anticipated...

#2 | Posted by Wardog at 2024-05-09 07:49 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Another Defensive Use Of Firearms by the Good Guys.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-09 09:24 AM | Reply

Not a single Republican has anything to say.

Not a single We Support Our Troops virtue signaler has anything to say.

From Reddit:
The officer arrives and hears the story from the woman who called 911. She says when she walks by she usually hears fighting but this time it was getting out of hand, and she couldn't tell where it came from. She tells the officer the room number and he goes to the 4th floor at the very end of the hallway.

The officer knocks without saying anything, steps 5 feet to the right out of sight, waits 10 seconds, knocks again and says who they are, then moves again. They knock and say who they are a third time, then the door opens slowly. The victim is holding a pistol limply by his side. Once it's fully open (about 3 seconds) the officer says to step back and immediately shoots 6 times and the victim falls to the floor, then the officer says to drop the weapon. He calls on the radio that shots were fired and requests the EMTs.

#4 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-09 11:12 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Question: Would they have shot him on sight if he had been white?

#5 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2024-05-09 11:23 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Will he get a Silver Star like Pat Tillman did?

#6 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-05-09 11:33 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the attorney's claims. The sheriff's office recently came under scrutiny after one of its deputies resigned following an internal investigation last year of an incident in which he fired his weapon multiple times at a detained suspect after mistaking the sound of an acorn hitting the roof of his patrol vehicle as a gunshot, GulfLive.com reported.

www.military.com

#7 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2024-05-10 01:15 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

That's murder. The cop reflexively shot so fast, the man didn't have a chance.

#8 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2024-05-10 11:58 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun

Turns out guns make you less safe, because they make racist pantswetting cops nervous. Even in the "free state of Florida."

#9 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-10 12:18 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

8.8K views 4 hours ago

www.youtube.com

#10 | Posted by Corky at 2024-05-10 12:37 PM | Reply

Thanks for posting this. I read it in the local paper this morning. That's life in Florida.

#11 | Posted by YAV at 2024-05-10 12:42 PM | Reply

Do cops entering a house even know how to 'talk first'
before opening fire with their guns?

asking for a friend of mine...

#12 | Posted by earthmuse at 2024-05-10 02:01 PM | Reply

Pro tip to all you apartment dwellers, Black or White: when The Po-Po come knocking, call out "White folks in here" in a tone emulating Ted Baxter. It may just save your life...

#13 | Posted by catdog at 2024-05-10 02:01 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#10 | Posted by Corky

Great rendition. I grew up listening to Marty. I seen him in concert in the early 80s.

#14 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2024-05-10 02:04 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#13 | Posted by catdog

Not sure if that is funny or sadly newsworthy.

#15 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2024-05-10 02:05 PM | Reply

Has DeSantis promoted these cops to his election stormtrooper squad yet?

floridapolitics.com

#16 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2024-05-10 02:10 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Opening a door with a gun visible in your hand is a terrible idea, even if it's not cops knocking.

However, the gross incompetency of this case is appalling and qualified immunity in this case a mockery of justice.

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2024-05-10 02:18 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

So here is the thing. You have rights. Your rights don't end where other's fear begins - especially to the police but that just doesn't matter when you are facing the police all too often. Very sadly so in this case. I haven't seen any body cam footage yet but Domestic disturbances have always been one of the top things police fear due to the danger.

#18 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2024-05-10 02:29 PM | Reply

Opening a door with a gun visible in your hand is a terrible idea

Probably why they shot him 6 times before they told him to drop it.

#19 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-05-10 02:35 PM | Reply

I haven't seen any body cam footage yet but Domestic disturbances have always been one of the top things police fear due to the danger.

#18 | POSTED BY GALAXIEPETE

There was a case floating around recently of officers responding to a domestic disturbance. As they approached the door, a woman ran out yelling how he was gonna kill her.

So they entered the home and as they turned a corner came face to face with him ... holding an AR.

Needless to say he didn't leave the house in his feet.

#20 | Posted by jpw at 2024-05-10 02:46 PM | Reply

Another Headline FAIL

www.usatoday.com

The deputy clearly went to the apartment the complainant advised and shot the man with the firearm in his hand who obviously was a clear and present danger.

#21 | Posted by Javelin at 2024-05-10 03:52 PM | Reply

#21,
So...indict the "Informant" for 2nd degree
manslaughter and the Cop for 2nd degree murder.

#22 | Posted by Wardog at 2024-05-10 04:42 PM | Reply

#9

The only guns that make most Americans less safe are the ones in the hands of the worthless murdering garbage pigs.

You want gun control, take them away from the pigs FIRST.

#23 | Posted by DarkVader at 2024-05-10 06:33 PM | Reply

#13

If the pigs are knocking, DON'T OPEN THE DOOR.

If they had a warrant, they'd have already broken in. If they don't, you are NOT required to give them any opportunity to come in, nor are you required to answer any questions or communicate with them at all. If you have a lawyer, go ahead and call them.

#24 | Posted by DarkVader at 2024-05-10 06:38 PM | Reply

The gun was pointing down.
There was no threat.
I don't know why we keep hiring people like this to be police officers.
We do get who we hire, though.
Yay for us.

#25 | Posted by YAV at 2024-05-10 09:59 PM | Reply

His Right To Bear Arms was abrogated.

And in his own home too.

This country is becoming a joke.

#26 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-10 10:08 PM | Reply

Becoming??? After four years of Fat Donnie shove a lightbulb up your ass??

#27 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-05-10 11:06 PM | Reply

The deputy clearly went to the apartment the complainant advised and shot the man with the firearm in his hand who obviously was a clear and present danger.

You are no better at paying attention to detail than that stupid cop.

The cop was told twice that the apartment is 1401, he repeated it once. He then proceeds to 1407 and shot the man mere seconds after the door opens. The man's gun was at his side pointed at the floor. There was neither "clear" nor "present" danger.

The cop should be prosecuted.

#28 | Posted by et_al at 2024-05-10 11:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"The cop should be prosecuted."

There will always be another cop.

The system that created the cop needs to be prosecuted.

How would might go about prosecuting that, is left as an exercise to the reader.

#29 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 12:22 AM | Reply

The only guns that make most Americans less safe are the ones in the hands of the worthless murdering garbage pigs.

Nope. Having a gun in your home makes it statistically more likely that you or someone you love will be shot. This story just adds another data point.

#30 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-11 07:48 AM | Reply

Opening a door with a gun visible in your hand is a terrible idea, even if it's not cops knocking.

If you think your home is being invaded, you aren't bringing your gun to the door?

#31 | Posted by JOE at 2024-05-11 07:50 AM | Reply

In this Biden era of high crime and incompetent government the real questions are 1. Why would anyone not be armed when opening a door to an unknown knock from supposedly unidentified? and 2. Why would police not double check with "double authentication i.e 2FA" before knocking on a door?

Too many of these types of police shootings of innocent people do occur at the wrong house and one is too many. No knock entries obviously need minimized to specific crimes like kidnapping etc.as

#32 | Posted by Robson at 2024-05-11 09:04 AM | Reply

ROBSON

" Why would anyone not be armed when opening a door to an unknown knock from supposedly unidentified?"

#1 ! Why would an innocent person feel the need to open a door with a gun in their hand?

#1a ~ What's wrong with asking "Who's there?

#1b ~ What's wrong with using a peep hole?

#1c ~ What's wrong with looking at a doorbell camera?

#1d ~ If I needed a gun to open my door, I wouldn't open my door.

Dummy!

#33 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-05-11 09:32 AM | Reply

"#1b ~ What's wrong with using a peep hole?"

Cops know about the peep hole.

That's why cops are trained to hide over to the side after knocking.

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 01:02 PM | Reply

Why would police not double check with "double authentication i.e 2FA" before knocking on a door?

That question suggests the cops did something wrong, by not double checking.

Ask the cops if they did anything wrong here. The cops will tell you they did everything by the book.

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 01:05 PM | Reply

A few things here:
Just to be clear, I'm not defending the officer, just going over the points of information. Though it seems simple, there is a lot of investigation yet to be done, and this is the type of investigation I used to do, so it is of interest to me. If it isn't of interest to you, use the little wheel on your mouse.

The video on some outlets has been edited. Here is the full version: www.wjhg.com

The apparent witness is not the woman seen on the video (property manager?) . She relayed that the actual witness said , " happens frequently but this time it is getting out of hand " and "the girl who called was really scared.". It will be important to pull dispatch tapes to determine what she said, but more importantly, what information was relayed to the officer. Were there other calls? Was there a history at this particular apartment? He was alone, did the complainant give the wrong apartment number or was he arguing loudly with the girlfriend via skype? Was the girlfriend normally there?

The officer decided to go to the door without waiting for his backup who was almost there. Was this because he was unconcerned (routine domestic, no alarming details) or because the information led him to believe the potential victim was in imminent danger? This decision reflects his perception of the situation. I would look at policy (many departments require officers to wait) and the officer's past pattern. Some officers wait for backup and others think they are Superman.

The officers behavior at the door was typical. He knocked first, then stepped away to listen. Stepping completely out of sight AFTER knocking was a bad move. (Also, I would listen BEFORE knocking the first time) It is possible to move to a safe position (to avoid suspect shooting through the door, for example) and still stay within peephole visibility range . Hearing a knock and seeing nobody may have aroused suspicion. There is an irrational fear of home invasion robberies perpetuated by social media. This has led to many shooting by residents at innocent parties.

You could hear the Airman say "police" to someone which is indicative that he either saw the officer through the peephole, or heard the officer calling out "Sheriff's Office". Did he know it was the police or did he suspect it was a ruse? This would add context to his decision to bring the gun to the door. The girlfriends account of what he said to her could add context.

It is not uncommon in FL for a person to arrive at the door with a gun at their side. I probably happened to me once a month and I never shot anyone. It has probably happened to this officer at least a few times too, which leads me to wonder what was different about this situation. (Cont)

#36 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 01:57 PM | Reply

The timeline of the officer's commands and actions has been discussed. Something called "perception reaction delay" is an important concept to understand. It takes somewhere between scond and 1-1/2 seconds for you to perceive a stimuli, transmit the message to your brain, make a decision, transmit a message to your hand to take action to draw and fire. The mouth and words fall somewhere along that timeline, so it isn't necessarily in the order you expect.. It varies depending on the person, the circumstances, such as whether they are expecting the stimuli to occur. (BIG variable). Again, that is why the other factors are important. I would have to slow the video down to fractions of a second, reverse the timeline and to see what was happening NOT when the gun fired, but when he perceived what he saw to be a threat.

Unfortunately we can't see what the officer saw when the door first opened, because of his body position (which was very odd from a tactical perspective) . This created a camera angle that left the door opening out of the frame until the officer turned. We are assuming the gun was at his side when he opened the door, but there was enough time for it to have been in a different position before he became visible to the camera. Not saying it happened that way, just that it needs to be considered. I would like to see the rest of the video after the shooting, from all sources. The officer's spontaneous statements to others may add context. Of course he may lie, but it is very difficult to create fiction that meshes perfectly with other forensic evidence. Apparently there is audio/video from his girlfriend also.

It seems simple, but there is a lot involved in investigating a case like this, so don't be surprised if it takes a while. Everyone want the video released immediately, but that really compromises the investigation. Witnesses subconciously to tailor their statements to match other evidence when it is available rather than providing their individual perceptions.

#37 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 01:58 PM | Reply

"The officers behavior at the door was typical. He knocked first, then stepped away to listen."

This is what we're up against when it comes to police reform.

People who say you're supposed to step away from a door you just knocked on, to "listen."

It makes no sense, but it makes sense to them, and that's all there is to say about that.

#38 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:02 PM | Reply

"This would add context to his decision to bring the gun to the door."

What context does anyone need, to justify their right to bear arms, in their own home?

You are blaming the victim.

#39 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:03 PM | Reply

"I would have to slow the video down to fractions of a second, reverse the timeline and to see what was happening NOT when the gun fired, but when he perceived what he saw to be a threat."

Of course you would. Your two 8000 character limit posts are the verbal equivalent of playing the Rodney King video in slow motion.

It just never ends with you.

#40 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:13 PM | Reply

You are no better at paying attention to detail than that stupid cop.
The cop was told twice that the apartment is 1401, he repeated it once. He then proceeds to 1407 and shot the man mere seconds after the door opens. The man's gun was at his side pointed at the floor. There was neither "clear" nor "present" danger.
The cop should be prosecuted.
#28 | Posted by et_al at 2024-05-10 11:08 PM | Reply | Flag:

You are incorrect, the victim was in #1401.

Domestic disturbances have always been one of the top things police fear due to the danger.
#18 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2024-05-10 02:29 PM | Reply | Flag:

IMHO fear has no place in police tactics. You have to push it out of your brain and replace it with sound tactics and frequent training. You have to know you might die every day, but have the confidence in your training to believe you probably won't. Panic and fear is the underlying cause of most unjustified police shootings, not aggression.

If they had a warrant, they'd have already broken in. If they don't, you are NOT required to give them any opportunity to come in, nor are you required to answer any questions or communicate with them at all. If you have a lawyer, go ahead and call them.
#24 | Posted by DarkVader at 2024-05-10 06:38 PM | Reply | Flag:

Dangerous misinformation. Police do not always need a warrant to force entry. Exigent circumstances, such as a report of a domestic disturbance or sounds of someone crying or yelling can require them to force entry. PLEASE call your lawyer, ASAP. He will probably advise you to open the door.

I don't know why we keep hiring people like this to be police officers. We do get who we hire, though. Yay for us.
#25 | Posted by YAV at 2024-05-10 09:59 PM | Reply | Flag:

Yep, and that is where the solutions must begin. Better screening and psychological testing. Everybody hates the cocky rude cops but they aren't the ones shooting unarmed people. It is the scared ones that lock confidence in their training. Ironically, these are often the ones that enter the profession with the strongest sense of community service and desire to help others. Emotional intelligence is important too, but it has to be balanced with confidence. Some of the kindler gentler officers don't realize they are in over their heads until the ---- hits the fan. They are also the same ones that freeze up or hesitate to take action. That gets innocents killed too. Unfortunately nobody asks me, or talks to the officers involved in these shootings. It is easier to create a false narrative of racist brutes angrily gunning down innocent people and screen for them. Misidentifying a problem is a great way to keep it from ever getting solved.

#41 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 02:20 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"Domestic disturbances have always been one of the top things police fear due to the danger."

The cop elevated the danger and the fear by acting alone.

It makes its own gravy.

#42 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:29 PM | Reply

---- you Snoofy, obviously you didn't read my post. I hesitate to even respond to your vapid trolling. Whenever I do I regret it.The officers behavior at the door was typical. He knocked first, then stepped away to listen."

"People who say you're supposed to step away from a door you just knocked on, to "listen."
Read you ignorant ----. I said that was a bad move to step out of sight. Listening, yeah that is important to try to determine if someone needs help. Surely you would just mind your business and leave a potential domestic violence victim to fend for herself?

"This would add context to his decision to bring the gun to the door." What context does anyone need, to justify their right to bear arms, in their own home? You are blaming the victim."
Nope, I clearly blamed the officer for potentially CAUSING the victim to bring the gun to the door. Read my post again you weasely little --------.

"Of course you would. Your two 8000 character limit posts are the verbal equivalent of playing the Rodney King video in slow motion."
The limits 4000. Maybe you can figure out how to use your mouse to scroll past, you squirmy little parasite. Somebody else may actually appreciate hearing how an investigation proceeds.

#43 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 02:30 PM | Reply

You have to know you might die every day, but have the confidence in your training to believe you probably won't.

The training is it's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six. That's the training they place their confidence in.

"Panic and fear is the underlying cause of most unjustified police shootings, not aggression."

Put that into context here. Is it panic and fear to shoot a man who answers the door holding a gun? Or us that merely rational fear? Or is it not scary at all when someone answers the door holding a gun?

#44 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:35 PM | Reply

"Somebody else may actually appreciate hearing how an investigation proceeds."

You are putting on a clinic for how the police will find the police did not do anything wrong here.

We appreciate that. It's a great insight into why police shootings will simply continue.

#45 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:36 PM | Reply

"The officers behavior at the door was typical. He knocked first, then stepped away to listen."
"I said that was a bad move to step out of sight."

So it was typical, and it was also a bad move...

Are you gonna explain what "stepped away to listen" means? Were you trained to do that?

How does stepping away help you listen?

#46 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:40 PM | Reply

"Everybody hates the cocky rude cops"

That's also part of the training. The sheep are supposed to fear the sheep dog!

Are you sure you were really a cop?

#47 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 02:48 PM | Reply

Step away from in front of the door and step out of sight (so you can't be seen through the peephole) are two different things. The first one is a good idea (so you don't get shot with your ear against the door) The second one is a bad idea (because the resident might think you are a home invasion robber). It is possible to step out of the line of fire while still being seen through the peephole, because it has a wide angle lens. Now why don't you go upstairs and practice with the Amazon guy.

#48 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 02:58 PM | Reply

Step away from in front of the door and step out of sight (so you can't be seen through the peephole) are two different things.

If you're worried about getting shot through the door, why in the hell would you want your location to be seen through the peephole?

I'm sorry but that's just stupid.

#49 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 03:06 PM | Reply

47 I've become skeptical of anything the Dems say.

In this day and age of extreme leftist and Dem supported absurdity where men are now encouraged to claim to have menustration and menopause and can supposedly nurse infants. They want you to believe anything. Obviously Dems can be and do anything they wish.

Claiming to be a woman, cop or vet or truck driver (like Biden) is stolen valor and is never righteous. If a Dem male can claim to be a woman they will lie and claim anything. The true conflict is a leftist cannot ever claim to be an LEO , patriot and thus one who swears an oath to support the Constitution. Leftists hate the USA! When the left claims something today, best bet is to doubt all their claims, facts and truth.

#50 | Posted by Robson at 2024-05-11 06:13 PM | Reply

That's -------- Robson. I know Leftists who love the USA and I know plenty of cops who are Democrats and a few who I would call Leftists.

I am not a Leftist myself but I am a woman and was a cop. Spin on that.

#51 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 06:41 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#51

You and I often disagree on our opinions. And I do like what I learn from the discussions our disagreements seem to create.

But, imo, you are correct in your assessment of the comment to which you reply.

#52 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-11 07:06 PM | Reply

In my work I was surrounded by people who were different from me. In my retirement I try to do the same. I don't get out that much, but I find that here. Some of y'all piss me off but also challenge me. I appreciate the challenge. You can't learn in an echo chamber.

#53 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 08:12 PM | Reply

In my work I was surrounded by people who were different from me. In my retirement I try to do the same. I don't get out that much, but I find that here. I appreciate the challenge. You can't learn in an echo chamber.

#54 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 08:18 PM | Reply

I'm here for you M7.

#55 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 08:30 PM | Reply

@#53 ... You can't learn in an echo chamber. ...

Agreed.

#56 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-05-11 08:33 PM | Reply

Well Snoof, you can be there for me from the killfile. I'd be willing to talk to you more often if you could refrain from the strawman arguments and personal attacks, but you can't so there's no point. It's toxic.

#57 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 11:13 PM | Reply

Toxic is getting shot by a trigger happy cop, in your own home, while not breaking any law. I thought maybe black people could relate.

But you just go ahead and killfile that point of view, and enjoy your Safe Space.

#58 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 11:32 PM | Reply

I've got no problem with your point of view. I've got a problem with you deliberately misquoting my position as your basis for attack. EVERY single time. It's not clever. It's just a dick move. It's intellectually dishonest, and that's the ONLY reason I have a problem with you.

#59 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 11:49 PM | Reply

"Toxic is getting shot by a trigger happy cop, in your own home, while not breaking any law. I thought maybe black people could relate."

So... You can't relate?

#60 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 11:50 PM | Reply

Or are you trying to split the difference, because you can also relate with shooting someone who Dindu Muffin?

#61 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-11 11:52 PM | Reply

images.app.goo.gl

#62 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-11 11:57 PM | Reply

Miranda7. You're Ebrely, just with smaller ----.

#63 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-12 12:00 AM | Reply

Breast Cancer, double mastectomy. I've got new ones on order, but thanks for your concern.

#64 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-12 12:51 AM | Reply

#51 Miranda Im sure you are reasonable and correct to an extent. We need less comprehensive group think not more no matter how one identifies. Not all Dems or leftists actually hate America. But those who oppose our Constitution, or blindly promote more hate and identity politics, or promote illegal immigration and voting by illegals that inevitably enhances national divide instead of supporting some unity and American values.

BTW can someone please provide an opinion on the purpose of a killfile and what it accomplishes in a debate forum? I've never used it.

#65 | Posted by Robson at 2024-05-12 11:12 AM | Reply

- those who oppose our Constitution

You mean like those who support a President who created Fake Electors and a violent mob to overturn a State Certified Election and disrupted the Constitutional peaceful transfer of power in this Country for the first time ever?

People like you?

#66 | Posted by Corky at 2024-05-12 11:17 AM | Reply

"But those who oppose our Constitution"

All the Amendments to our Constitution were passed by people who opposed the Constitution for not having those Amendments.

You're smart for like one sentence, then you turn dumb again.

#67 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-05-12 12:25 PM | Reply

#65 I have only killfiled people who are deliberately nasty and insulting. I don't need that kind of toxicity in my life, and it's refreshing when their posts disappear from my feed, but the missing posts can make the threads confusing, so I often relent.

#68 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-12 02:20 PM | Reply

68 I posted years ago in debate forums called Raw Story Democrat Underground and Huffington. They were highly partisan. I don't know if they are still around. I spent most of my life as a political independent and libertarian. Actually I still believe in being politically balanced but it becomes impossible when opposition turns hard core partisan.

Sometimes those two forums created animosity because they opposed any concept of being non radical and non partisan. If I offended you above I apologize.

#69 | Posted by Robson at 2024-05-12 08:25 PM | Reply

"Actually I believe in being politically balanced but it becomes impossible when opposition turns hard core partisan".

Nice in theory, but labeling others as "the opposition" is a clue that you arent interested in being "politically balanced". Saying things like "Leftists hate America!" sounds pretty "hard core partisan" to me.

The tendency is to make assumptions and assign the worst possible motivations to "the opposition" rather than discuss and learn what those motivations actually are.

#70 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-05-13 02:32 AM | Reply

Re 69 & 70:

Other clues that belie a claim for a desire to be "politically balanced" are the use of generalizations and absolutes. Here are some examples of what I'm referring to:

" ... anything the Dems say."

"They want you to believe anything."

"Obviously Dems can be and do anything they wish."

" ... is never righteous."

" ... they will lie and claim anything."

" ... a leftist cannot ever claim to be an LEO , patriot and thus one who swears an oath to support the Constitution."

"Leftists hate the USA!"

"When the left claims something today, best bet is to doubt all their claims, facts and truth."

Personally, I find it difficult to imagine something that ALL the Democrats believe. Referring to the "Dems" as a group with a singular, unified belief is not only ludicrous but is directly opposed to the concept of having a political discourse. It is the antithesis of having political balance. In addition, use of absolutes (e.g., "never", "always", "cannot ever", etc.) are both useless and detrimental to a reasonable discussion. They are not conducive to political balance. By using these terms, I suspect your motivations to claim to be "politically balanced".

#71 | Posted by TrueBlue at 2024-05-13 03:26 AM | Reply

"I'm not a member of any organized political party ... . I'm a Democrat."
- Will Rogers

#72 | Posted by TrueBlue at 2024-05-13 03:30 AM | Reply

Comments are closed for this entry.

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