(04-28-2015, 10:38 AM)Jimbone Wrote: Yes, once again it's the ultra conservative boogy men twisting someones words. And all the kids and rioters were certainly listening and reading ultra conservative things to make sure they got the twisted message from their mayor.

(04-28-2015, 10:38 AM)Jimbone Wrote: ETA: Quoting and posting an article from a liberal hitman is hardly objective BTW. Dave Weigel has to resign from the Washington Post because he belonged to Ezra Klein's JournoList group (which was a liberal only, online group for journalists).

(04-28-2015, 10:48 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: Nobody said that the rioters pulled their violent dipshittery as a result of conservatives twisting the mayor's words, Jimbone and Maggot.

But, it sounds like you're saying that the rioters pulled their violent dipshittery as a result of the mayor's words, which I personally think is equally ludicrous.

I think the riots occurred because thugs had an opportunity and they took it. They would have done so, like so often happens during protests, regardless of the mayor's statement and how one chooses to interpret it.

I understood her meaning to be consistent with the clarification issued yesterday when I first heard her make the statement at her press conference this weekend and didn't realize how poorly it was worded until I saw it in print and out of context.

But, I understand that others believe she was actually green-lighting violence and riots, though that contradicts all of her previous and subsequent pleas for peace.

In either case, the mayor neither encouraged nor condoned the riots, in my opinion.

(04-28-2015, 10:52 AM)Maggot Wrote: This is what it is........a shit ton of nice black people saw a chance to get free stuff and decided they would grab it before someone else did. The opportunity that presented itself was not wasted. How can you blame them?

(04-28-2015, 11:04 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: It was a source that had quotes from several pundits, along with the video (you posted it separately while I was commenting) in one place.

The quotes by pundits quoted therein are accurate to the best of my knowledge, and the video of Rawlings making the statement in context is authentic, so it's a suitable efficient source and there's no question of "objectivity" here.

The mayor is getting heat for not requesting heavy police reinforcement in advance and underestimating the volatility as well. There's also criticism of the city's decision to close schools today. I don't know if those criticisms are valid or not, could be. I think she must really be in a tricky spot trying to respect opposition while trying to restrict violence.

Here's a source for that criticism: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/in-baltimore-a-political-test-for-a-mayor--and-a-new-governor/2015/04/28/be3233c4-ed4d-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html

I simply did not interpret the mayor's words the way they've been interpreted by others and never said anyone "twisted' them.

(04-28-2015, 11:08 AM)Jimbone Wrote: No, you said she was taken out of context. She wasn't. She was hammered by ALL media for a terribly worded statement during a volatile situation. It wasn't just conservatives (who of course had a field day), it was universal.

I'm not saying her words started the riots - knuckleheads were screwing around before she said anything.

But her words - and actions - certainly gave space to those who want to be opportunistic, and they took that space.

The City of Baltimore is handling this terribly. And unfortunately for her, she's responsible for that...

(04-28-2015, 11:10 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote:

(04-28-2015, 10:52 AM)Maggot Wrote: This is what it is........a shit ton of nice black people saw a chance to get free stuff and decided they would grab it before someone else did. The opportunity that presented itself was not wasted. How can you blame them?

I think you really are in a mental Twilight Zone, Mags.

No one said "nice" people just grabbed stuff -- nobody but you.

I haven't seen anybody refer to the rioters as anything but thugs, including the mayor.

Do you really think that the mayor's press conference on Saturday caused the riots? Riots sometimes happen when thugs take the opportunity to hijack a peaceful protests, we've seen it many times before.

(04-28-2015, 11:10 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote:

(04-28-2015, 10:52 AM)Maggot Wrote: This is what it is........a shit ton of nice black people saw a chance to get free stuff and decided they would grab it before someone else did. The opportunity that presented itself was not wasted. How can you blame them?

I think you really are in a mental Twilight Zone, Mags.

No one said "nice" people just grabbed stuff -- nobody but you.

I haven't seen anybody refer to the rioters as anything but thugs, including the mayor.



Do you really think that the mayor's press conference on Saturday caused the riots? Riots sometimes happen when thugs take the opportunity to hijack a peaceful protests, we've seen it many times before.

(04-28-2015, 11:28 AM)Maggot Wrote: Are you saying they are all thugs?

(04-28-2015, 11:31 AM)Midwest Spy Wrote: People keep referring to thugs hijacking the peaceful protest.

I'd like to know, where are the peaceful protesters? Are there pics of them peacefully demonstrating, and then a huge mob comes and takes over? Or is it in fact, a mob from the get go?

Just asking.

(04-28-2015, 11:28 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: What I'm trying to understand is if it's being insinuated here that the mayor should be held accountable for the riots directly because of a poorly worded statement. I don't think that's the case, personally. I think those rioters would have struck regardless of the press conference or that statement.

Could she have done other things differently to minimize or avoid giving rioters an opportunity to destroy parts of the city? Probably so. She failed to achieve the balance she was seeking. I don't envy her position.