Feds charge white “Knockout Game” suspect with hate crime charges

They won’t lay a finger on blacks who do it to white people, but you let a white man hit a black man and it’s on.

Federal authorities said Thursday they have arrested and charged a Texas man in connection with the “knockout game,” accusing him of a hate crime for targeting a black man for a vicious street attack.
Most knockout victims that have appeared in news reports have been white, but the Justice Department said in this instance the victim was a 79-year-old black man, and stepped in with federal charges.
“Suspected crimes of this nature will simply not be tolerated,” said Kenneth Magidson, the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Texas. “Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Justice Department said it filed a criminal complaint against 27-year-old Conrad Alvin Barrett on Tuesday and arrested him on Thursday.
According to Justice officials, Mr. Barrett recorded himself on his cellphone attacking the 79-year-old man, laughing and saying “Knockout” as he runs away.
The 79-year-old man had his jaw broken in the Nov. 24 attack.
“The plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?” Mr. Barrett says in the video, according to the authorities.

Pretty ironic is it not? Also too:

The “game” has spawned a fierce debate since many of the reported victims have been white and their assailants have been black, but hate crimes charges have been all but non-existent.
Last month New York authorities did charge one person with a hate crime, saying the assailant targeted a Jewish man.

I believe that is pretty ironic too. Just sayin’. 🙄

Cracker Barrel changes it’s mind

Well, that was quick!

From Cracker Barrel’s facebook page:

Dear Cracker Barrel Customer:
When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers. Our intent was to avoid offending, but that’s just what we’ve done.
You told us we made a mistake. And, you weren’t shy about it. You wrote, you called and you took to social media to express your thoughts and feelings. You flat out told us we were wrong.
We listened.
Today, we are putting all our Duck Dynasty products back in our stores.
And, we apologize for offending you.
We respect all individuals right to express their beliefs. We certainly did not mean to have anyone think different.
We sincerely hope you will continue to be part of our Cracker Barrel family.

Glad to see that common sense kicked in and they changed course. 😀

In defense of Cracker Barrel

Hey everybody I thought I would mention this on here, as I did on Facebook and on Twitter.

For those who are upset about what Cracker Barrel is doing in relation to duck dynasty and Phil Robertson; here is why they are doing what they’re doing.

Back in the 1990’s Cracker Barrel had a big run in with gay advocacy groups over hiring practices.

Apparently what happened was that a manager or an employee who was found out to be a homosexual was fired from his job.

Needless to say there was considerable amount of outrage and lawsuits were filed.

So what is happening is this Cracker Barrel is trying to avoid any and all controversy related to the gay community.

Cracker Barrel lost a lot of business when that happened and thought they were going to have to close a bunch of stores up over it.

So they’re trying to play it safe. As someone who has run a business in my day and knows what it is to have bad things about them, I totally understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.

Just letting you all know.

Update: Rick’s Rants links in. Thank you!

The Robertson Family releases statement on the suspension of Phil Robertson

In response to the suspension of Phil Robertson, the family at Duck Dynasty have released a statement:

We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E’s decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Phil would never incite or encourage hate.We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right.We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.
via The Robertson Family Official Statement | Duck Commander.

Glenn Beck is already on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzzAbHiZZyY

I wish them the best and I personally hope they move to the history channel! 😉

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson suspended by A & E for telling the truth

As I am sure you must have heard. Phil Robertson from the hit TV show “Duck Dynasty” has been put in the penalty box for merely daring to speak the truth about homosexuality.

So, what did he say?

This right here:

“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he tells me. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
What does repentance entail? Well, in Robertson’s worldview, America was a country founded upon Christian values (Thou shalt not kill, etc.), and he believes that the gradual removal of Christian symbolism from public spaces has diluted those founding principles. (He and Si take turns going on about why the Ten Commandments ought to be displayed outside courthouses.) He sees the popularity of Duck Dynasty as a small corrective to all that we have lost.
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong,” he says. “Sin becomes fine.”
What, in your mind, is sinful?
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
“It seems like, to me, a vagina – as a man – would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me.”

Of course the intolerant queers were having none of this:

“Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe. He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — and Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to re-examine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.”

Phil Robertson said of his suspension and about the backlash:

“I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.
“However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”

Now, I had this to say about all of this on twitter:

https://twitter.com/Americanist313/status/413505055531094016

and….

https://twitter.com/Americanist313/status/413505644214235137

…and that is just what I would do too. If I were the Robinson family, I would kindly inform A & E that if Phil was no longer welcome on the show; neither was the rest of us and I would tell A & E to get their silly production equipment off of my property and proceed to get a contract with some other network; preferably one that was not so hostile to Christians! If they tried to sue me; I would get a lawyer and fight them in court.

It is not like Phil Roberson cannot afford a lawyer! The man is a multi-millionaire.

Now do I really agree with what Phil Robertson said. Yes, I do . Totally. I would be nothing but a two-bit hypocrite if I didn’t! May the Lord Jesus Christ truly bless Phil Robertson and his family for daring to stand for the biblical truth about homosexuality.

Here’s what the word of God says:

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. – (Leviticus 20:13 KJV)
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:9-20 KJV)

Same group of verses in the Amplified Bible:

⁹Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,
¹⁰Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilersand slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.
¹¹And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.
¹²Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.
¹³Food [is intended] for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will finally end [the functions of] both and bring them to nothing. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but [is intended] for the Lord, and the Lord [is intended] for the body [^[a]to save, sanctify, and raise it again].
¹⁴And God both raised the Lord to life and will also raise us up by His power.
¹⁵Do you not see and know that your bodies are members (bodily parts) of Christ (the Messiah)? Am I therefore to take the parts of Christ and make [them] parts of a prostitute? Never! Never!
¹⁶Or do you not know and realize that when a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? The two, it is written, shall become one flesh.
¹⁷But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.
¹⁸Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
¹⁹Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,
²⁰You were bought with a price [purchased with a ^[b]preciousness and paid for, ^[c]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

As to why Phil Robertson is being treated this way, Jesus said the following:

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. – (John 15:18-19 KJV)

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. – (1 Peter 2:7-8 KJV)

This is why the world hates people like Phil Robertson and like me; and like every other Christian, who actually believes the Word of God — because we are followers of Christ and of his Word. The Word of God is offensive to those who are not of the body of Christ.

Phil Robertson spoke the truth according to the Word of God. He also dared to speak his mind about the subject. For this, he was punished. We, as Christians, are not of this World. Phil Robertson just learned that the hard way.

Others: Hot Air, The PJ Tatler,The Gateway Pundit, Vox Popoli, The Gateway Pundit, The Jawa Report, Weasel Zippers, Business Insider and Mediaite, The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit,

Traitorous Republican Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La introduces Bill that Threatens to Dump Christian TV Programming

If there was any indication that the Republican Party is no longer the Party of Christian morals —- this is one of them.

The Story:

Rep. Steve Scalise – Republican Traitor
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La introduced the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act which seeks to get rid of “must-carry” rules honoring free, local television.
The National Religious Broadcasters organization is urging Congress not to pass the bill.
Dr. Jerry Johnson, president and CEO of NRB, said the bill “would be a significant detriment to Christian TV stations and the viewers who rely on them for spiritual guidance.”
The “must-carry” rules require cable companies to pick up many local television broadcast stations, including religious stations. These rules were enacted by Congress in 1992 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 1997.
via New Bill Threatens to Dump Christian TV Programming – Politics – CBN News – Christian News 24-7 – CBN.com.

This is nothing more than an outright betrayal of the Christian right by the Republican Party. As I wrote before; the Republican Party is moving away from Christian values, in favor of a secularist, libertarian type of Republican Party. This is a mistake, the Republican Party cannot and will not win elections without the social conservatives.

I believe that Christian Conservatives need to contact this man, and voice their opposition to this horrible bill. Here are the offices of this traitor:

Washington, DC Office

2338 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: (202) 225-3015

Hammond Office

1514 Martens Drive, Suite 10

Hammond, LA 70401

Phone: 985-340-2185

Houma Office

8026 Main Street, Suite 700

Houma, LA 70360

Phone: (985) 879-2300

Mandeville Office

21454 Koop Drive Suite 1E

Mandeville, LA 70471

Phone: (985) 893-9064

Metairie Office

110 Veterans Boulevard Suite 500

Metairie, LA 70005

Phone: (504) 837-1259

We have to stop this bill in its tracks. Click here to contact your representative and click here to contact your Senator.

It figures: Arapahoe High school shooter, was a socialist

Shocka! Not. 🙄

Karl Halverson Pierson – Looks like a queer liberal to me! 😛
In one Facebook post, Pierson attacks the philosophies of economist Adam Smith, who through his invisible-hand theory pushed the notion that the free market was self-regulating. In another post, he describes himself as “Keynesian.”
“I was wondering to all the neoclassicals and neoliberals, why isn’t the market correcting itself?” he wrote. “If the invisible hand is so strong, shouldn’t it be able to overpower regulations?”
Pierson also appears to mock Republicans on another Facebook post, writing “you republicans are so cute” and posting an image that reads: “The Republican Party: Health Care: Let ’em Die, Climate Change: Let ’em Die, Gun Violence: Let ’em Die, Women’s Rights: Let ’em Die, More War: Let ’em Die. Is this really the side you want to be on?”
Carl Schmidt and Brendon Mendelson, both seniors at Arapahoe High, knew Pierson. They said he had political views that were “outside the mainstream,” but they did not elaborate
via Arapahoe High gunman held strong political beliefs, classmates said – The Denver Post.

He was picked on, the news article says; and so, he went and got a gun and shot people. Typical liberal. 🙄

No word on whether he was one who liked to take a stiff one in his anal cavity or not. ( 😯 )

Others: Mediaite, The PJ Tatler, U.S. News, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Weasel Zippers and NBCNews

CBN News Channel Morning Edition: Dec. 10, 2013

(Via CBN TV)

Must be nice

Must be nice to be able to legally extort that kind of cash out of someone like that.

The story:

Roger Ailes’ secrets command a heavy price. Last week, the New York Times reported that Fox News had reached an out-of-court settlement with Brian Lewis, the former Roger Ailes aide who was abruptly fired in late July. A Fox News executive with knowledge of the negotiations told Gawker that Lewis was paid approximately $8 million in hush money.
“The big talk at work, especially today, is the settlement number,” the executive said on Friday, explaining that the exact figure had been filtering through the channel’s rank-and-file since early November.
The settlement came after an extraordinary, months-long confrontation during which Fox News accused Ailes’ former right-hand man of vague “financial irregularities,” and Lewis’ attorney angrily responded that Ailes had a lot to lose if Lewis ever spilled the beans on their 17-year-long partnership at the right-wing network.
via Fox News Paid Fired Executive $8 Million to Keep Quiet.

Sometimes I think John Edwards was right; there are two Americas. The one America, where honest people like myself, could not get a break in the writing world, if I tried. Then, there is the America where shlubs like this guy here, who after being in an position of being trusted by a network; decides to tell what he knows and then makes out like a bandit.

I am not complaining, I could be in a much worse way than I am now. But, it sure does strike me as being asinine. Liberty and Justice for all? it’s more like bribery and extortion for those who decide to take money from the right people.

Others: CANNONFIRE and Politico, more at Mediagazer » (Via Memeorandum)

Best Wishes to Don Rickles

Some sad news to read about, Mr. Warmth is in recovery.

The Story:

Don Rickles is on the mend.
After canceling several shows due to treatment for a leg infection, Page Six has learned the 87-year-old comedy legend was suffering from necrotizing fasciitis, better known as a flesh-eating disease.
Rickles underwent three surgical debridements — a removal of the infected tissue — and a skin graft, which forced him to stay off his feet for a while.
Fortunately, his rep tells us the condition was discovered quickly, Rickles was treated successfully and he’s well on the road to recovery.
“He has been rehabbing the leg, is back on his feet and is doing wonderfully,” the rep said. “He is looking forward to be back on the road after the first of the year.”
via Don Rickles recovering from flesh-eating disease | Page Six.

I love this man’s style of humor, he is one of the funniest comics out there. Here is his performance from President Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural ball, this my friends; is some seriously funny stuff:

I love that ending, the man is and will ALWAYS be a class act. 🙂 Which, by the way, is lacking in Hollywood and show business today — and that, is class.