November 1, 2011

SandBox Comments: NewsBusters "Bill Gates Laughs At Buffett Rule: 'You Can't Raise the Taxes We Need Just By Going After That One Percent'"

Great video and photo of Bill Gates.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Con Games "The Social Security Story That’s Driving Liberals Crazy"

"The Washington Post's big Sunday piece on Social Security solvency starts from the premise that the program has crossed a dangerous line. Since 2009, the program has paid out more in annual benefits than it is raising each year in taxes, effectively meaning that the program's benefits are relying partly the $2.6 trillion in bonds in the program's "trust funds" to cover checks to senior citizens...."
(Con Games)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: MSNBC Powerwall "2007 vs. 2011: The Presidential Primaries Then and Now"

"Fear not -- Powerwall is here to put things in perspective. Click through to see how this primary season compares to the same time in 2007, and get a sense of what news bumps are worth paying attention to -- and what hype you can tune out...."
(Laura Blum)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Letter to the Editor "Justice is not just for the rich"

"DA Beeson’s comments were brought to my attention and I really feel compelled to comment on them. As far as his office “seeking justice” as opposed to the defense bar, I have to really think about this, and any citizen in your district should too. First, I am one of those “defense bar” attorneys he speaks of. I fight for justice every day.

I represent clients who are forced into plea deals without realizing the consequences because the DA’s office does not have an obligation to tell them what they really face. Clients of mine are forced to speak to the DA prior to applying for a public defender. This is found unconstitutional in almost every other state and even the U.S. Supreme Court has found it unconstitutional in Texas. Somehow Colorado feels differently.

I represent clients who have had law enforcement officers do shoddy investigations, used excessive force, and violate our most basic constitutional and human rights. My clients have no other voice.

Government no longer speaks for them, and I, along with many, many members of Colorado’s defense community seek justice for these clients. We seek justice and we demand that the government that brings charges against its own citizens do so honestly, and that the law is applied fairly. Justice is not just for the rich. It is for all. That is seeking justice."

Lynda Carter
Pagosa Springs, Colo.


"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Drug dealer said he sold to protect family "

"DENVER — A Mexican national who admitted selling cocaine and marijuana on Pueblo streets claims he did it only because he was scared of a Mexican drug cartel that decapitated his half-brother as coercion.

Miguel Salais-Dominguez said last week he returned to Pueblo in 2009 from the state of Chihuahua, after being deported, to sell drugs for a cartel because it threatened his family there..."
(ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZ)

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SandBox Comments: Houston Chronicle "Texas civil libertarians oppose law-enforcement drones"

Pretty amazing technology.  Watch the video at the end of the article.

"As the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office gears up to employ an unmanned helicopter to hunt criminals and find missing persons, a civil liberties advocate said drones can hurt more than they help.

Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of the sheriff’s office said the $300,000 ShadowHawk drone — purchased from Vanguard Defense Industries — will take to the skies in the coming months to provide another tool in the law-enforcement arsenal.

“It’s an exciting piece of equipment for us,” he said. “We envision a lot of its uses primarily in the realm of public safety — looking at recovery of lost individuals and being able to utilize it for fire(fighting) issues....”
(Robert Stanton)

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: KKCO 11 News "Hartman reassigned, following controversial memo "

SandBox sends out a thank you to Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey for turning over the inappropriate and unethical letter (copy can be read here) written by now former Director of the Colorado Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, David Hartman.

The folks have a lot to bear when it comes to the way our federal, state and local governments handle  'all things marijuana'.

It's not the medical marijuana businesses or the patients that carry the weight of all the problems in the medical marijuana industry.

It's the taxpayers.

To have someone in a position of trust, like Hartman, attempt to manipulate the voting process and add to that taxpayer burden was a huge disappointment.

Thanks to Sheriff Stan, David Hartman can now move on to another line of work.

(Learn where David Hartman went?  Click title.  Comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "TDC appreciates all parties joining in talks"

Dorothea Farris, Vice President of the Thompson Divide Coalition, writes in to the Post Independent this morning.

The political diplomacy (and the shrewd timing of release) are duly noted and appreciated as part of the process.

SandBox Nanny is certain that commentators will be appreciative as well.

With that said, SandBox points out that once again it is the chatter out here that has brought the balance.  Not the politics of token acknowledgements.

Support Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Colorado) as he continues his path of bringing the first, true balance to the Thompson Divide controversy

His steady hand is in need of more support from the industry, more support from the folks and your continued encouragement in chatter.

Slow, steady progress is being made on political levels against radical groups on both sides.

The path to success that works lies in the middle.

Again, thank you to Dorothea Farris for her well-timed press release today.  It certainly has been very helpful.

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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."