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Looting in New Orleans

By TChris, Section Huricanes Katrina and Rita
Posted on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 11:46:52 AM EST
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by TChris

Update: Recent video, via CNN, can be accessed here. Earlier video, via Crooks and Liars, can be accessed here.

.....

In the aftermath of Katrina, some opportunists took advantage of chaos to enrich themselves by theft, while others, desperate to survive, took food and water and other supplies that enhanced their chances of staying alive. The media have done a less than spectacular job of sorting out the two groups.

Starting to come to light, however, is a group of opportunists who were charged with the duty of enforcing the law: members of the New Orleans police department.

News reports in the aftermath of the storm put officers at the scene of some of the heaviest looting, the Wal-Mart in the Lower Garden District. Some witnesses - including a Times-Picayune reporter - said police were taking items from shelves.

When it comes to the police, department spokesperson Marlon Defillo doesn’t like the word “looting.” It’s so much nicer to refer to the “appropriation of non-essential items during the height of Katrina, from businesses.” If only they were so considerate in their descriptions of crimes committed by civilians.

Update (by LNILR): Check out NOLA.com's take on the NOPD looting investigation posted today.

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    Looting in New Orleans | 12 comments (12 topical)
    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#1)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    Bill Bennet has a solution to looting and crime in general:
    I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.
    Harry Reid has demanded an apology. Media Matters via Michael Crowley filling in at TPM

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#2)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    So saith the "Morals Czar".

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    Conyers has asked that his radio program be cancelled. It's hate speech, and they damn well know it. Charley once again proves that he can't read. And he never read what he says he read. So what good is he? He's a liar.

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#4)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    char-we will post that as your epitaph when you are aborted from TL. Thanks for the great line.
    plus I thought abortion had no moral dimension since it just gets rid of useless tissue.
    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    Looks like there is some more racist backlash coming down. Could it be the Bush fire Chimpy started by promising $200 billion to the "savages" in NO. Wonder if he had any smirk of an idea that his supporters would scream rape. The irony is that while the fires of racism are being fanned, Corporate America will get all the money while Social Security and Medicare will pay for it all. Smirk the Chimp King is a genius after all.
    From Ezra Klein [T]oday's Wall Street Journal atrocity. Penned by Charles Murray, he of The Bell Curve fame..."They are, quite literally, savages, unable to function in the world the rest of us inhabit. They are, as he puts it, the "looters and the thugs," not to mention the "inert women doing nothing to help themselves or their children."
    Armando at daily kos

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    Bill Bennet
    Hey I bet if you aborted every white Republican fetus that right-wing hate speech would decrease.

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    Penned by Charles Murray, he of The Bell Curve fame..."They are, quite literally, savages, unable to function in the world the rest of us inhabit. They are, as he puts it, the "looters and the thugs,"
    Best description of the Neocons I have yet heard. Bravo Charles.
    not to mention the "inert women doing nothing to help themselves or their children."
    Whoa and as an added bonus, he throws in a zinger at Barbara Bush. Right on, my nigga!

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM EST
    "I have a dream" was appropriated by racist rep Stacey Campfield R-Knoxville, on his web site in response to being rejected from the TN Black Legislative Caucus.
    Experts on race and hate groups said Campfield hit a nerve when he used King’s words to take on a black institution. It’s the same tactic white separatists often use, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center.
    link via metafilter

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#10)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:31 PM EST
    Paul-I would go farther to say black people are just people and the beautiful part is that we are all one race, the human race with its infinite variety.

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:32 PM EST
    char-abort thyself as you are a most usless bit of flesh, nasty and twisted to boot. Your attempt to reverse the most biggoted line we have seen in months as policy to sentiments of those looking on in horror is one sleazy mother fu*king tactic. It obviously reveals your insipid racist hatred of 'others' and suggests that you have nothing but contempt for yourself. We see this kind of thing with closeted republican gays and Fascist leaders like Hitler. Their self loathing is so great that they want to liquidate anyone that reminds themself of the thing they hate most about themselves. Really disgusting charley.

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:32 PM EST
    "how have your policies helped strengthen the black family;" Are you kidding? That's hilarious. Our policy of INTEGRATION has changed the entire fabric of America, much to the chagrin of you racists. Equal access. Equal treatment. Equal rights. Equal accomodations. COLORBLIND SOCIETY. The things you racists hate -- the things that have improved America beyond the dreams of the founders -- and far beyond the hatred of the Confederacy.

    Re: Looting in New Orleans (none / 0) (#13)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:33 PM EST
    char-
    that someone calls you on your nonsense. your side is the side of abortion on demand with no limitations.
    OK charbrain, unlike your neofacist racist pals the left is not interested in forcing medical procedures based eugenics, that has been historically the position of the ultra right. If you think that calling Bennet a racist for his qualified remarks is a lie try this on for size ahole: "I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce corruption in the news, entertainment and financial industries, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every jewish baby in this country, and your white collar crime rate rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your white collar crime rate would go down." Now how does that feel, as you seem so sensitive to any "Jew baiting" as you call it. Remember the remark is only theoretical and qualified as reprehensible. The only nonsense is your color blindness and total lack of empathy, You would be scary if you were not so dim.

    Looting in New Orleans | 12 comments (12 topical)