Countdown Get's Lazy, Becomes Faux News

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  I intend to call BS on both sides when it comes to politics.   And especially REPORTING on any thing that's political.

I'm a Keith Olbermann fan.  Love his show, and for the most part hold the same political views.  And I agree with the folks occupying Wall Street right now.  If anyone around here is trying to take THEIR country back, it's those folks, and the Unions who have thrown their support behind them.

That being said, you really need to get your facts straight.

Tonight, October 5, the last 15 minutes or so the show were devoted to a group of these folks who left the park and tried to work their way up Wall Street.  They didn't make it.  The New York Police started arresting them.

According to Olbermann's guest, J. A. Myerson of ALTHERNET.org, the police had set pretty clear limits for the demonstration and, "They knew they could get arrested" when they did it.  But they did it anyway.  So where's the outrage coming from that the Police were true to their work

Mr. Myerson asserted that the Police were spraying people with, "The horrible toxin, pepper spray".   Oleo Resin Capsicum is a totally natural substance made entirely of, and I know this will surprise you, PEPPERS!  Even the propellant used to shoot it out, which was originally alcohol, is now water.

It is nothing more than a concentration of some of the hottest peppers in the world.  The kind you grow in your garden to make salsa with every fall.  And even if you do NOTHING to get it off of your face, it will quit burning you in 45 minutes and leave no lasting marks.  And every police department in the world is trained to offer, "decontamination" when the arrested is cooperative.  This involves the Fire Department using saline, to wash it off of you face. 

So quit making it sound worse than it is.  It sucks, but it's not toxic.

Next, Mr. Myerson asserted, "That there are reports of protesters being hit in the head with batons..."   Nope.  Not going to happen for several reasons.  And I'm going to assume here, that the New York City Police Department undergoes baton training that's at LEAST as comprehensive as I got. 

First, every baton class for every rookie or old vet that has to recertify every few years starts with the admonition to, NEVER AIM FOR THE HEAD!  First and foremost, it's dangerous.  You can kill someone with a blow to the head.  It's also too easy to defend a blow to the head with your hands and arms.

A baton is an impact weapon to be used WAY down the force continuum from deadly force.  It's designed to be used on large muscle groups to make it tough for the guy who's fighting with you to keep fighting, and give up because he can't raise his arms or kick you with his legs, because they hurt too much.

And this is part of the training, too.  Don't do it because it looks bad.  Yes Public Relations is part of Police training too.

I never had to hit anyone in all the years I carried one.  Simply pulling it out stopped the fight every time.  But I've heard other officers say that the guys they tried to arrest never seemed to feel it hit them until the next morning.  I got that.

And lastly, I have to give my, "Most Faux Like Comment" to Keith himself.  It appears that the NYPD had brought out the horses to help with crowd control.  He said, "A horse in a crowd is extraordinarily dangerous and potent weapon."  Well, isn't THAT a bit inflammatory?

I guess that animal could be, if ridden by Egyptian Defense Forces trying to knock the block off any one talking smack against the current dictator.  But in this situation, it is the most effective means for officers to see over crowds, control large groups of people, separate combatants in fights, and for the mounted officers to direct other officers to places where they are really needed!  In a word, they are THE most effective crowd control tool the Cops have at their disposal!

So, Keith?  I'm still a fan, but you guys blew it tonight.  And I sentence you to go back and watch every episode of, "COPS: Madri Gras" ever recorded before you start calling horses in crowds, "extraordinarily dangerous".