On This Day: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s hands rest on the railing of a boat during their tour of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010 ( Photo by Pete Souza)
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Mooooooorning again everyone – the R&S vacation is nearly over, hang in there! And chat on.
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Happy 34th Wedding Anniversary to Mr and Mrs 57!
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On This Day
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha wait for Old Faithful to erupt during their visit to Yellowstone National Park on Aug. 15, 2009 (Photo by Tami A. Heilemann)
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President Obama and daughter Sasha steer the “Bay Point Lady” during a tour of St. Andrews Bay off Panama City Beach, Fla., Aug. 15, 2010 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama greets children from the Valleyland Kids summer program outside a school in Chatfield, Minn., during a three-day bus tour in the Midwest, Aug. 15, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama greets people outside the Old Market Deli in Cannon Falls, Minn. Aug. 15, 2011. The President stopped to have lunch with five post-9/11 veterans from Minnesota during a three-day bus tour in the Midwest (Photo by Samantha Appleton)
President Obama holds a baby as he arrives for lunch at the Old Market Deli in Cannon Falls, Minn., during a three-day bus tour in the Midwest, Aug. 15, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)
The Obama Diary 
🙂
Are we back to rising and shining? Not that there was anything wrong with what we have been doing.
What’s in a name after all, Chips Chica? You know we’ll all chat whatever you name the post. 😉 😉 😉
Moooooooooooooooorning VeeeeeeCeeeeee! Moooooorning everyone!!
Finally! 😛
😳 Sorry for running rampant in the village – it was like entering the playground and finding all the equipments were free, so I ran from one to the other giddily, head thrown back and laughter bubbling over! It was great fun for a short while, then I got lonely.
Come on, everybody! 😳 I’ll stop spreading my skirt over all the chairs, promise.
Are you all still listening to that incompetent #Ferguson police chief? smh
If the officer was responding to a robbery call, why did he tell the boys to get the fuck on the sidewalk and then pull away ?
Another poor job by this police chief. He certainly intimated that Michael Brown might’ve been a suspect in a robbery without any proof. More questions than answers and this is what infuriates people. He might’ve well just released the name Darren Wilson in a paper statement. So glad the investigation has been taken out of his hands. Ridiculous.
Exactly Linda – please tweet that.
What he just said to the press is the most disgusting smear of an innocent murdered person – and by a police chief!!! He need to get run out of town by the weekend. He was so nervous because he knew it was ALL, EVERY WORD TOTAL LIES.
Missed the new post alert…bringing my question over:
I keep hearing that the officer had sustained injuries for which he was treated. My question is when and how did he sustain the injuries? From the witnesses account(s) it does not seem that Michael Brown was responsible for the injuries.
I don’t believe a word I hear from the Ferguson/County Police in this matter swbluega – I hope they have DATED photos of those injuries
THANK GOD THERE ARE OUTSIDE FORCES COMING IN TO INVESTIGATE THIS…THEY WILL DRAG THE TRUTH OUT FROM UNDER THE ROCKS…HOWEVER…AS PBO SAYS..DURING THIS PROCESS…IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP ALL PROTESTS PEACEFUL…I DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY LIKE IRAQ!
They have been working on the injuries, I’d say, keeping him out of sight while they paint on the scars. I have such little regard for this cop, I wouldn’t put it past him to injure himself – probably did such an exaggerated job they are waiting for the injury to look less grotesque and more ‘real’.
Still watching the KSDK feed. The people in Ferguson are not impressed. In fact, the chief’s so-called information seems to have angered them any more. For most, this is the first they’ve heard of a robbery. Nor had they heard of any businesses in the area claiming a robbery before today.
Hats off to you, SW. I cannot watch obvious lies/insincerity – my anger gets the better of me, and I need to help my BP stay down. I’ll settle for reading the comments and summaries here.
Good morning all of TODville! Happy Friday. Chips, how about the “It’s Friday” video?
The Police Chief sure sounded nervous. I think he knows they have really screwed up.
Again, I have to say thanks to this wonderful site for keeping up all on track this week. These events show us we really must GOTV. and I am so thankful for our President and his cabinet.
Good observation, mtMarilyn.
He did look nervous.
No doubt the contrast between police response last night under the leadership of Captain Ron Johnson and what happened the previous nights makes him realize what an idiot he is — mob (read: KKK) mentality in a vain attempt to cover up a cold-blooded murder.
He probably was unaware of how Twitter spreads the news, but did realize that his officers stepped over the line when they arrested journalists. He’s not dumb enough to know that that was a huge mistake, but that’s what happens with mobs (aka his police officers).
Capt. Ron Johnson showed what a true leader is, the right person for this time and place.
Capt Johnson showed what police officers should be and do. The Ferguson Police Chief is in his own little world and didn’t realize the whole world is watching. Now they are trying to say Mike Brown might have been involved in a robbery. And they brought out a black female cop. First time we have seen her. I really pray this will change the whole department. The citizen of Ferguson and all of US need to realize the importance of voting. We all must GOTV.
WTC VC – i’m in shock again after another disaster of a press conference in #Ferguson
I just cannot believe this Police Chief and his officers still have jobs – they do nothing but create friction, tells lies and make excuses for murder
It surprises me how much police can get away with sometimes. Yes, they are in a stressful and often dangerous job where their lives can be on the line, but while they should be protected and given the benefit of the doubt sometimes, the ones who so clearly hold life cheap should alternately be held to a high standard of accountability. Their consequences should not be sugarcoated. That’s my view.
Lov-e-ly pics to light up a day! Thanks Ms Chica.
Thankyou so much for the photos Ms Chips – sorry I am letting loose with negative thoughts
still lying. this man is not telling the truth
I knew they were coming up with something to save this cop. I don’t trust that police chief, not one bit.
I knew they were somewhere cooking up some way to save this cop. Down right disgusting.
That press conference was just disgusting.
How this police chief and some of his colleagues have a job is the height of white privilege in action. What utter incompetence.
https://twitter.com/NerdyWonka/status/500278365031370752
https://twitter.com/hystericalblkns/status/500279413544869888
https://twitter.com/NerdyWonka/status/500280141860569088
Dear NW – thank you – I just could not believe that the Police Chief is now talking about a robbery. They are rewriting the script every time their last lies get thrown into the trash.
Mike Brown was shot for walking while black. He was driven at and then shot by a Police Officer with an uncontrolled temper and hatred of black people.
/very low-key comment/ 😉
Good morning, NerdyW; missed you the last day or so. Glad you’re here now.
Thanks, VC.
I think David Simon (The Wire) nailed it:
He also said that there was a call for the emt but they were at another call. So Mike Brown laid there for 30 minutes with no one touching him. This is so unforgivable.
Follow
Michael SkolnikVerified account
@MichaelSkolnik
Ferguson police are only ones saying #MikeBrown stole something from store. Parents went to store + workers said they never called police.
It is disgusting.
https://twitter.com/goldietaylor/status/500278856784150528
https://twitter.com/NerdyWonka/status/500282847911899136
It is astonishing that the Ferguson Chief feels victimized because he has to explain himself. Revealing the murderer’s name seemed as though he considered it a distasteful duty he was forced to perform, with no reason whatsoever.
This Bully, ruling by Might, like RW Bullies before him (Chris Christie, Dick Cheney) whines and stutters at the outrage of him having to explain himself.
The American people have had more than enough of this repulsive behavior.
[OT, this is for our San Francisco/Bay Area TODers. Fab music coming your way!]
Miles Electric
Performing Miles Davis classics from late 60s to 80s.
Antoine Roney, DJ Logic, Darryl Jones,
Blackbyrd McKnight, Vincent Wilburn Jr.
& Etienne Charles
Saturday, August 23, 7:30pm
at SFJAZZ Center, Miner Auditorium
Some stellar fusion-era Miles Davis alumni come together in the Miles Electric Band, a rocking 11-piece improvising band specializing in the wired-up and funky music Davis created from the late 1960s to the ‘80s. Led by the legendary trumpeter’s nephew, drummer Vincent Wilburn, Jr., the band features many of the commanding musicians Davis tapped for his various jazz-rock ensembles, among them bassist Darryl Jones – who later played with Sting and currently performs with the Rolling Stones – pianist John Beasley, keyboardist Robert Irving III, percussionist Mino Cinelu, Indian tabla master Badal Roy and P-Funk guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight. Others in the band include saxophone ace Antoine Roney, DJ Logic on turntables, and the splendid Trinidad-born, Julliard-educated trumpeter Etienne Charles, playing Davis’ parts, his way, on pieces from Jack Johnson, In a Silent Way and other classics. “A daring improviser, Charles also delivers with heart-wrenching lyricism,” wrote Jazz Times about the trumpeter, who, in the words of The New York Times, has “an almost classical sense of thematic organization.”
,
http://www.sfjazz.org/events/sessions/2014/aug23/miles-electric?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sessions081214WeeklyNewsletter-Public&utm_content=version_A
Oh, and this is a *very* relevant observation by @eclecticbrotha:
Ryan Reilly the reporter from Huff Post who was arrested is tweeting info. from the packet that was released. He also has pictures that are allegedly from the robbery showing the suspect on his page. Didn’t wanna bring them over here in case their an error.
100% that was written AFTER Mike Brown was killed
i think that this is an example of rushing to be first…we should wait to see it this pans out…and reporters should THINK about the validity of the information
I feel like some of these reporters are ready to say that the surveillance photo is Michael Brown…because that’s what the police said. According to the time line, all of this — from the time of the robbery to the time of the shooting — seems to have occurred within 10 minutes. Just as the women who had the picture on her phone said, “What did he do, go home and change?”
That incriminates the COP Darren Wilson right there. You do NOT use deadly force on an unarmed robbery suspect. And that’s assuming that Mike Brown did in fact commit robbery in the store. Right now it’s only the police insinuating that Brown was a suspect – there is no outside evidence of that. No phone calls, no complaints from the store owners or employees. The still pictures they provided don’t prove ANYTHING.
andddd….
if he had been a suspect…make no mistake… they would not have just told him to get out the the street/he would have been taken into custody…
HF…i hope the DOJ has a press conference very soon…before the folks in Ferguson lose faith again
Agreed, even if he was a suspect, it was no reason for the cop to unload his gun into Mike Brown. Last I heard we are all presumed innocent until proven guilty. The fact is, he was unarmed and the shooter was in no danger.
Guess what, even if Michael had the entire store in his hands as he was moving away from the murderer that would not have convinced me that he was worthy of (such a vicious) death. U.S. has a justice system…I thought.
Lovely morning pictorial. An oasis in the desert of bad news. Congrats VC. You are rolling along this morning.
😉
LOCAL LIVE STREAMING CONTINUES – FERGUSON:
http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html#ec=RpMDJ2MzpHHWm-7tBc5qSL6BfybuvCyn&pbid=c660b791c3704ff69d4162d7adb7c4a1&docUrl=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/watch-live-ferguson-police-identify-officer-who-shot-michael-brown?utm_content=bufferb323e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
KSDK feed was showing the surveillance photos. Supposedly linking person in the photo based on what the person was wearing.
http://www.ksdk.com/videos/news/local/2013/11/12/3144211/
if Mike Brown had been a suspect…they would have arrested him….not tell him to get on the sidewalk…i hope that the Dept of Justice holds a Press conference very soon…or folks will lose faith again
Different pants – different shoes – much bigger man – according to people on the ground – wonder what the police will do next to create another riot
I’m listening to that 99ts. She’s sent the photo to the media. Lies can be disproved every time.
#Ferguson PD no longer have authority in Ferguson.
A true leader, a role model for all boys, is now in charge, Capt. Ron Johnson.
They have no aurthority – but they are whipping up hatred – media are now implying that Mike Brown was stealing before he was shot
Still pics prove absolutely NOTHING – people can infer anything from still pictures. We don’t know when and under what circumstances those pictures were taken and who are in the pictures. The fact that we are now hearing of this after 6 days suggest that something is amiss here.
and keep in mind….
Mike Brown who was unarmed had his hands up..in SURRENDER………in Surrender
Press conference with governor 11am (on the feed from JER above)
Release the 9-11 calls about the ‘robbery’, Ferguson PD
If Mike Brown was a suspect in a strong arm robbery- then why was that not stated right off the bat? Hogwash.. I don’t even believe there was a robbery… again, why is it coming out only now, ohhh and with photos apparently? I’ll wait for the DOJ to verify this info. In fact the chief today went out of his way to not once state that Mike Brown was either suspect or perpetrator… why is that? He murkily only gave info of a ‘timeline’ of the cops.. which informed us of exactly nothing. But he threw out that timeline of the robbery specifically to muddy the water.. to get media and folks pushing the meme that Brown was indeed a suspect or even the perp. without stating it out-right… he gets the media to do it for him. Corrupt. Pig.
When you have a white police force, patrolling a mostly AA town, this is what you get…desensitizing of the AA community that you are sworn to protect and serve…until you, as the white officer, only see the AA community as being bad, and doing bad..so they must ALL be bad! Not good. Not good at all. This is happening all over America Ferguson is just an example of many. This needs to change. Community policing needs to happen where citizens and police work together for the betterment of their neighborhoods.
The situation has changed, DF.
Capt. Ron Johnson is taking a page out of PBO’s book — give ’em enough rope to hang themselves.
I’m pretty sure that the Ferguson police chief is going to find himself very isolated, with no one to back up his obvious lies.
Meanwhile, calm is restored in Ferguson by Capt. Johnson, and the community is now galvanized to seek justice.
” The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine…”
This is how it was for YEARS or maybe forever! I’m hopeful that you’re right and things will change. I want to see that change take root before I jump for joy. We just had a police chief stand in front of his community and lie his ass off and try to cover up a murder. Thanks, but I’ll wait.
Agree 100% about community policing desertflower. If the officers actually knew the people and vice versa there could be some system of trust that could develop. Also I really hope that we have a reversal of the DOD giving police forces these tanks and weapons that make communities feel as if they’re under seige in their own communities. Apparently there was $500 million worth of military equipment given out just last year.
Absolutely…and I posted a story earlier this morning about the Pentagon giving these police depts military equipment. That needs to stop…right the hell now.
The name of the shooter was raised by a press member yesterday – got to be the ONLY reason it was released today – so they spent last night (when relieved from playing army) making up their latest story.
Yup – that’s it in a nutshell.
Besides bumbling through the press conference, there’s no way the Ferguson police chief would have been able to answer questions. He would have discredited most, if not all, of everything he said — assuming he said something besides “no comment” or “I cannot answer that question at this time”.
Media I’m watching believing every last word on the police report – will they NEVER learn that police LIE
The media knows damn well that police lie. And I’m sure most of them KNOW that the police are not telling the whole story now. But the media serves the same agenda as those racist cops. So they will ALWAYS take the side of the police – at least when it comes to Black males in America. Look at how they side with the GOP and perpetuate their LIES when it comes to PBO.
I know all that hopefruit – after the last two days I was really thinking they might be a little changed – silly me.
https://twitter.com/luke_flytalker/status/500285339290714112
WOW…the person in the ground looks nothing like the one in the surveillance tape..
Also different pants – and slimmer
Heh…everyone’s thinking the same thing…
https://twitter.com/goldietaylor/status/500296435469135872
agree, the guy in the photos is huge, amongst other differences. However, I’m still not believing the photos are even legit.. let alone any robbery. A whole lot of B*llsh*t going on here.
good point – could have been created just for this press release – wonder who is interviewing the shop keeper as I type
it all smells dirty. I just hope the DOJ gets and gives the real truth. I cannot imagine the hell Mike Brown’s parents/ family are going through, to hear the lies/ innuendo from these police is heartbreaking.
MSNBC – just put up the pictures and said “The Police have confirmed this is Mike Brown”!!! They believe the police?
welp MSNBC has been pushing- online via their front page- the meme that the protestors were the violent ones all week. Thus I put nothing past msnbc or any national media. We KNOW we can’t trust media for facts.
I will admit here that it frankly galls me that people are allowing themselves to be sidetracked into an analysis of whether or not it was feasible that Michael Brown had stolen cigars or whatever from a store. (I suppose the next bit of speculation might be that he sold them as soon as he left the store, hid the proceeds, and all before the cop caught up with him. 🙄 )
As far as I’m concerned the sole focus should be on the way Michael met his death and how justice is going to be apportioned. I really don’t care WHAT he had done in his LIFE prior to the moment when an officer of the law pumped bullets into an unarmed human who was surrendering (with shots already in his body, mind you), and left him to slowly bleed to death in the street while he watched. Cop probably felt safe in his cop credentials. What in Ferguson made him think this behaviour was acceptable, and what is Ferguson / U.S justice system going to do to teach him, AND ALL OTHER AMERICAN VIGILANTE COPS that it is not acceptable?
Sadly vc – that is not how the US RW see it – nor how a jury would see it – as shown very clearly with the killing of Trayvon. It is a standard police tactic to protect their own by smearing the victim.
TS, the fact they don’t see it this way, IMO, does that mean that we the public should validate *their* approach. Maybe if the average citizens all let their view be known change could be gradually effected.
Excellently stated, VC.
TY, NerdyW.
The more I think of it, the more it infuriates me that police and media have almost everyone, including intelligent and outraged people, going off on a tangential discussion about the validity of the police red herrings. What does it really matter if it was Michael in the store or not? Is the penalty for theft to be gunned down like a …. I can find no valid comparison? What does it matter if Michael had even been previously charged for having/owning a gun? He didn’t have one the moment he was killed. He wasn’t threatening the officer with his hands raised. He wasn’t swearing at him. With shots already in his body, he was pleading for mercy. For what? So he could plead his case himself at a later date? Maybe for being black, something over which he had no control? For his life?
And the fully trained, *peace* officer, tasked with a duty to serve and protect emptied more bullets into his body; left him to die and to lie there exposed. I can’t watch them tie this up with all these irrelevant strings without feeling like they are tying me up on the insides. Because if they can lead us, in this corner of sanity and reason, away on a tangent, then what can they/will they do with a jury if it gets that far?
Offered here with no comment
On 2nd thought…
Fear you have the best you are going to get vc – you’ve done well 🙂
I know, eh? I didn’t expect him to respond, so MAYBE a seed has been planted?
TY
Captain Johnson is not to thrilled with the chief’s press conference.
Has given him major issues – He is amazing in handling same – taking some of the people to the Govs press conference – Can the governor FIRE the whole police department – best thing that could happen.
Must have taken a page from PBO about patience and restraint because I’m sure he wanted to say Shut the f**k up.
We may have heard the last from the Police Chief – I can but hope – be interesting to hear what the governor has to say
They are lying now??? Amazing gall.
I’m not sure they’re lying about the robbery—–report states that Brown’s companion that day, Dorian Johnson, told investigators he was with Mike Brown in the convenience store—–(someone appearing to be Johnson seen on vid with Brown). Of course, that still does not explain how an unarmed suspect ends up dead a few minutes later.
It also doesn’t explain how Mike Brown changed his clothes before being shot – nor how come it took the police a week to throw this story into the arena.
The robbery (whether or not Brown stole cigars) is largely irrelevant because at the time he got shot, he was not endangering anyone’s life. I can see if he was shot while holding the store clerk at gunpoint. But that was not the case.
The suspect in the robbery was wearing shorts and sandals. Michael Brown was wearing a shirt, pants, and sneakers. How are those the same people? Why didn’t the cops release all this the first day or next day after Michael Brown was murdered? He was shot multiple times from 35ft away with his arms in the air. Explain that, dotster.
I’m sure the Ferguson PD thought it would be business as usual (their initial lies would be accepted) and that no one would dare to question what happened, much less demand justice.
Then when things didn’t fall in place like it was supposed to, they panicked and became reckless… both with their over-the-top response, as well as the story that was put together in their attempt to justify the killing.
Despite the protests and riots, it is suspicious as to why nothing of the robbery was even a blip on the radar before today.
The timing of this new ‘info’ reeks to hell. The feds need to step in now.
The link says that Gov Nixon and State Police Capt Johnson are expected to give a media conference at 12 noon ET.
Thanks hf – way past my bedtime but I wanted to hear this – hope they are better organized than the Police Chief
Two things: Didn’t Anonymous (who I do not trust either) release audio of police calls that day? Were there calls out about a robbery- and a suspect id given? Also In regards to the name of the killer cop- did anonymous get that name correct, anyone recall?
*****Did you all remember to lift JackieG up with positive thoughts/prayers at 11:30 – If not join in now, please!
yes I remembered vc, and I’m in
^5 (since we can’t join hands)
I am here.
^5 🙂 we are still thinking of JackieG.
I have never had to bite my lips from swearing as often as I’ve had to this morning! I typed a message to remind us at 11:26am so that we’d all go together and my laptop chose that moment to freeze!! Then I had to shutdown and restart, and of course, lose the original message! Have I told you lately that I absolutely hate technology? It bugs me majorly that it does what it wants when it wants and I cannot have that pleasure.
Thank you for the reminder.
NP, my pleasure (except the part where I’m fighting with my freezing laptop).
(((((((((Jackie)))))))))))) Sending all my positive vibes to you.
Positive thoughts and prayers for JackieG.
Yes, Terri…. ongoing.
Hello TOD.
Wow.
The gull of the Ferguson Police Chief. Wow.
Thanks TOD for keeping me in the loop.
Saw this Tweet from Ann Curry. I thought this will be my official last comment on David Gregory.
Just for LL….in case……later tonight, he might want a Woodstock Music Jamboree.
Happy 34th Mr. & Mrs 57. Peace and Blessings!
May I second that! And I have 10 years on them! 44 yrs on August 21st.
Let me add my baffled and furious name to the list of TOD members who are watching this morning’s events with dismayed disbelief.
Let’s hope the press conference will restore sanity.
I don’t know how I could handle my feelings this week without everyone here. Thank you to all who do the hard work (Chips, Nerdy, LL,LP, AMK) and those who share their feelings and time so generously (Hopefruit,Dudette,Nena,57,Dotster, Bob, VC,99,Layla,anniebella,) too many to name.).
Also, welcome to those who lurk.
does anyone have a link to the upcoming press conference, please?
Here you go.
http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml
thank you nerdy, there now, waiting.
https://twitter.com/gregpinelo/status/500301519854379008
So glad they were found and alive.
BBL
LIVE NOW: Awaiting Missouri Governor Press Confernce – http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/08/15/memo-to-ferguson-pd-the-world-is-watching/
Lie on top of lie…I have seen this crap too often. This will stop! Thank God for President Obama and Eric Holder.
https://twitter.com/theonlyadult/status/500301418406744064