I have an idea for a fantastic super villain for the Batman franchise… North Carolina Speaker Thom Tillis who would be known as “The Trickster.” The antics and shenanigans that he could foment would put the Joker and the Riddler, combined, to shame. Mr. Tillis has been caught with his hand in the hypocritical cookie jar in the past by his shameful bonuses and pay raises to some of the cronies and sycophants on his staff while preaching from the Bible of Conservative Financial ideology. So the reasonable person with at least a scintilla of intelligence has some idea of what to expect from this wily politician. However, last night, he actually outdid himself with his late-night vote… and even though I denounce his vindictively inspired actions against the North Carolina Association of Educators in his early morning overriding veto to weaken the teachers’ labor union, I can’t help but hold a bit of admiration for his “in-your-face villainy.” One thing about Thom Tillis, the man has no shame, as he has proven in the past with his raises to his staff favorites in a time of austerity when state jobs are being eliminated, workloads increased, and salaries slashed.
Mr. Tillis doesn’t pretend to be fair… he doesn’t pretend to believe in the principle of transparent government… he doesn’t pretend to have an ounce of compassion for those in need or tolerance for those of different beliefs and/or opinions. He has shown the ability to boldly act, without any apparent concern for the consequences of his actions which have generated a slew of lawsuits and indignant outrage. That Speaker Tillis makes waves would be an understatement, as he is a veritable one-man tsunami.
A consummate Tea Party conservative, Tillis orchestrated the late-night override of the Perdue veto under a shroud of secrecy. Even his fellow Republicans were unaware of his nefarious plans until the eleventh hour. Then, after stirring up things with his questionable clandestine activities, Tillis has the audacity to proclaim his actions to be legal… and dares the Democrats to challenge them.
I have yet another villain for Batman to confront… Governor Bev Perdue as “Lady Two Face.” She puts on airs to the public that she’s a paragon when it comes to governing under transparency and stakes a claim on being a champion of racial equality and justice. Governor Perdue prides herself, with a big pat on the back, for vetoing the ethically challenged Republicans’ attempt to gut the provisions of the recently enacted Racial Justice Act. However, when it comes to her actions closer scrutiny shows they do not even come close to reflecting her lofty rhetoric about equal justice.
One need look no further than her treatment of petitions for pardons submitted by Erick Daniels and Shawn Massey, two African American men who were unjustly convicted for crimes they did not commit and who served, respectively, more than seven and twelve years of wrongful incarceration. They need a pardon from the governor in order to be eligible for compensation for their years of wrongful imprisonment. But… KAPOW!! No pardon. Both of their petitions were denied by Lady Two Face and her hench-people. And why were they denied, need you ask? For one reason, and one reason only… because of the color of their skin. Make no mistake about it.
If there is a legitimate reason other than racial prejudice for Governor Perdue denying a pardon to Erick Daniels and Shawn Massey, then she and her staff are keeping it top secret… as opaque as a lead-lined vault. When I specifically requested to know from the governor why Daniels’ request for a pardon was denied, her general counsel lied by telling me that the Governor’s office conducted its own investigation which did not clear Daniels of the crime for which he was convicted and served time… but due to “confidentiality concerns” they could not tell me what they were or divulge any information about their investigation. The governor’s office provided me with nothing more than a pathetic excuse which was really intended to keep its racist bias confidential.
Late in 2011, Wake County Democratic Party President Mack Paul authorized a three member panel to find out why the Governor denied a pardon to Erick Daniels. I spoke to two of the three, and they both told me that their efforts to obtain information were rebuffed by the governor’s office… there were no justifications given as to why his pardon request was turned down. In other words, the governor who proclaims to be a proponent of transparent government will even keep results of a criminal investigation hidden from members of the Wake County Democratic Party.
If DC Comics does not take me up on my generous suggestions for these two diabolical additions to their varied stable of villains, then take heart, readers. I can always find a place for them in my strip, “The MisAdventures of Super-Duper Cooper.”
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40 comments:
Sid,
Do you believe that Gottlieb and Himan are guilty of "purposely bungling" the investigation? If so, why? If not, how did they do such an incompetent job and why didn't their supervisors replace them with competent investigators?
Sid, it is clear that Judge Hudson, by vacating the conviction and dismissing the charges against Erik Daniels, did him one better than a pardon. Daniels is never going to get justice from Democrat Bev Perdue.
Walt-in-Durham
Anonymous said...
Sid,
Do you believe that Gottlieb and Himan are guilty of "purposely bungling" the investigation? If so, why? If not, how did they do such an incompetent job and why didn't their supervisors replace them with competent investigators?
I am not that familiar with the actual investigation itself to give a really informed response. I have no reason to believe that they purposely bungled it. If you have any information, please feel free to share it.
Walt said...
Sid, it is clear that Judge Hudson, by vacating the conviction and dismissing the charges against Erik Daniels, did him one better than a pardon. Daniels is never going to get justice from Democrat Bev Perdue.
Walt-in-Durham
It has definitely been an uphill battle to try and encourage the governor to do the right thing and pardon Daniels, so that he can get compensation for his wrongful incarceration. Do you think a Republican would be more likely to grant him a pardon?
I am not that familiar with the actual investigation itself to give a really informed response.
Why don't you read the comments on the last couple of threads?
Kenhyderal has raised a lot of questions about the DPD's "botched" or "sloppy" investigation, and I think he is just getting started in pointing out the many problems.
Sideny: "I am not that familiar with the actual investigation itself to give a really informed response. I have no reason to believe that they purposely bungled it. If you have any information, please feel free to share it."
If you are not familiar with the details of the actual investigation, how can you claim that Mr. Nifong's conduct was within standards for an ethical prosecutor?
How can you justify saying that Mr. Nifong was justified in indicting the three innocent Lacrosse players?
"Do you think a Republican would be more likely to grant him a pardon?"
If he is to get one, it will only come from the GOP. No one doubts a Republican's dedication to crime fighting. While we have little experience in NC with GOP governors, the two we have had seemed to use their pardon power more equitably than the many Democrats.
Walt-in-Durham
"I have an idea for a fantastic super villain for the Batman franchise… "
I have an idea for fantastic comic relief for the Batman Franchise...Sidney Harr, who would be known as “The Angel Moronic” - A super hero whose ignorance is of biblical proportions.
Everyone should have known that drunk prostitute and convicted car thief Crystal Mangum's story about being gang raped by white men in a bathroom that was too small was completely false from the beginning.There are almost no cases of white men raping black women.We just aren't attracted to them.
Dr. Harr, as the host of this blog, it's my opinion you should use some discretion in allowing such blatant and racist hate speech to remain posted. Failure to censor it makes you look bad and disgusts many who want justice to prevail. If this becomes just another cesspool of hate like "Liestoppers", I'm out of here.
For once, I agree with Ken, Crystal's long time close pal. (lol). Why not just censor out the posts that are blatantly racist, Sid? Of course, that would mean somebody would have to be censoring some of YOUR posts as well.
I don't think Liestoppers is any better or worse than this site in terms of racist comments, but then, I don't spend/waste my time reading every single word posted on either/both sites. I guess, ultimately, we all should realize that one person's racist insult is another's perceived statement of "the truth". Arugment/debate without insult or sarcastic rebuttal would make this site even more dull than it is. Oh well, anyway, if you read a post here that offends you, just pass over it and consider yourself the censor of your own little world.
kenhyderal said...
"If this becomes just another cesspool of hate like "Liestoppers", I'm out of here."
And believe me, you would not be missed. But we all know that you will continue to post here because you can't resist making a fool of yourself.
To the 6:09P...Amen, Brother!
Actually, I would kinda miss old Kenny-I-am-smarter-than-anyone. He is, after all, a long time close friend of Sister. How else would we be able to know what was reaaaalllly going on that fateful night when poor Mangum was the victim of the evil white oppressors who forced her to come to the party (with her paid driver...), forced her to show up in her modest costume, forced her to get drunk, forced her to use a sex toy in front of them, and forced her to tell her "story" to the most amoral Assxxxx DA in the history of north carolina.
Every single time I hear the liberal whining about poor Crystal, the single Mom, just trying to put herself through college and trying to support her children THE ONLY WAY SHE COULD....I want to throw up. That statement is not only a lie, it is also a deep insult to every woman who finds herself in circumstances where she has to work to support her children. If Mangum was smart enough to be in college, she was smart enough to find a job other than pole vaulting.
BUT, we have good old reliable Ken and good old Sid to remind us of just how victimized poor Sister is, even today.
Hey Sid, want a true super hero for your comicbooks? I nominate Cline, our distinguished DA. She is, as they say, at it, yet again, bashing Judge Hudson. What style, what class, what brains, what intelligence, what grasp of the law!! A mental giant, Cline is. The Lawyer of the Year, even though she is losing in her bid to win Worst Prosecutor of the Year....to John Bradley. Darn it.
Come on, Sid, let's have a new comic strip about the Adventures of Msssss. Cline.....wonderwoman at the bar.
Walt said...
"Do you think a Republican would be more likely to grant him a pardon?"
If he is to get one, it will only come from the GOP. No one doubts a Republican's dedication to crime fighting. While we have little experience in NC with GOP governors, the two we have had seemed to use their pardon power more equitably than the many Democrats.
Walt-in-Durham
Walt, I have given that serious thought. Last gubernatorial election in 2008 I voted for Independent Mike Munger... and I am glad I did. I did it because of his positions on crime. I don't know where McCrory stands on crime, but I would be reticent about voting for any Republican because of their positions regarding health care and the disparity in wealth in this country.
Anonymous said...
"I have an idea for a fantastic super villain for the Batman franchise… "
I have an idea for fantastic comic relief for the Batman Franchise...Sidney Harr, who would be known as “The Angel Moronic” - A super hero whose ignorance is of biblical proportions.
Thanks for the suggestion, but it wouldn't fly. Too unbelieveable... even for a comic strip. However, "The Angel Brilliante" would work.
Anonymous said...
Sideny: "I am not that familiar with the actual investigation itself to give a really informed response. I have no reason to believe that they purposely bungled it. If you have any information, please feel free to share it."
If you are not familiar with the details of the actual investigation, how can you claim that Mr. Nifong's conduct was within standards for an ethical prosecutor?
How can you justify saying that Mr. Nifong was justified in indicting the three innocent Lacrosse players?
First of all, their innocence has not been legitimately determined. Secondly, it is not far-fetched to believe that the Duke Lacrosse players, with their reputation, underaged drinking, record of alcohol-related misdeeds and public urination, and their racial
epithets, are capable of sexually assaulting an exotic dancer. Mr. Nifong didn't just conjure up the scenario... he investigated and prosecuted a complaint.
Anonymous said...
Hey Sid, want a true super hero for your comicbooks? I nominate Cline, our distinguished DA. She is, as they say, at it, yet again, bashing Judge Hudson. What style, what class, what brains, what intelligence, what grasp of the law!! A mental giant, Cline is. The Lawyer of the Year, even though she is losing in her bid to win Worst Prosecutor of the Year....to John Bradley. Darn it.
Come on, Sid, let's have a new comic strip about the Adventures of Msssss. Cline.....wonderwoman at the bar.
Thanks for your suggestion... but as a potential super-villain, she can't come close in comparison with the dastardly deeds of other prosecutors such as Tom Ford, Bill Wolfe, and Michael Parker.
Oh i see. In this country you are guilty till proven innocent? Hmmm thought it was the other way around ,sid. So you are saying that men who drink are more likely to rape and pillage. Wow. Then women who drink are more likely to be whores? Is that it? Or perhaps women who go to motels with paid drivers, dressed in little more than their underwear, and have five male samples in and on them...... Are more likly to be , uh , what, sid?
What a crock. Even you, with your limited grasp of reality, ought to be able to grasp the fundamentals of our justice system, Including NOT presuming someone is guilty of XXX because they are YYY. I dont presume sister is a whore because of her behavior. Why do you presume the players were rapists because of theirs?
"Walt, I have given that serious thought. Last gubernatorial election in 2008 I voted for Independent Mike Munger... and I am glad I did." Actually Mike ran on the Libertarian ticket. Although he's not really a Libertarian. It is odd, but we find ourselves in agreement supporting Munger. I was about to vote for him, until I realized that McCrory might just beat Perdue. I decided that I'd rather get rid of a corrupt old Easley crony than vote my conscience. I was right to vote for McCrory, I'll do it again unless the Democrats dump Perdue. Only then would I give their candidate a serious look.
"I would be reticent about voting for any Republican because of their positions regarding health care and the disparity in wealth in this country."
If you want to feel good, vote Democtratic, if you want to do good, vote GOP. That's just a saying, but it tends to work out.
Sid: Mr. Nifong... investigated... a complaint.
I thought Nifong's position was that the DPD--and not Nifong--was responsible for the investigation (Nifong has absolute immunity for his actions as prosecutor, but only qualified immunity for any actions as investigator). Do you believe Nifong bears any responsibility for the DPD investigation?
Kenhyderal has described the DPD investigation as "botched" and "sloppy." His comments have been instrumental in raising questions about it on prior threads.
Will you answer questions about the DPD investigation? Your insight may help your readers assess the completeness of that investigation.
"First of all, their innocence has not been legitimately determined. Secondly, it is not far-fetched to believe that the Duke Lacrosse players, with their reputation, underaged drinking, record of alcohol-related misdeeds and public urination, and their racial
epithets, are capable of sexually assaulting an exotic dancer."
Sideny, one principle of our justice system is that someone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Since they were never proven guilty, they are presumed innocent under the law.
They are actually innocent as a matter of fact because there was no evidence of a crime. Since there was no crime they could not be guilty of any crime.
It is not at all unprecedented for a prosecutor to believe a defendant is innocent, based on his evaluation of the evidence or lack thereof. That is what happened when AG Cooper's office evaluated what evidence Mr. Nifong had.
The Lacrosse team's "drinking, record of alcohol-related misdeeds and public urination, and their racial epithets" was something Mike Nifong fabricated to justify his prosecution of the innocent Lacrosse players.
In case you have not noticed, a prosecutor's suspicion of a crime is not enough to prosecute a crime. He has to prove the crime happened. It has been pointed out to you on multiple occasions, there was no evidence of the crime alleged. Your response to that has always been, a crime could have happened without leaving evidence.
You are, I say again, a deluded megalomaniac with a grudge against the innocent lacrosse players only because they were not wrongfully convicted of a crime.
"Thanks for your suggestion... but as a potential super-villain, she can't come close in comparison with the dastardly deeds of other prosecutors such as Tom Ford, Bill Wolfe, and Michael Parker."
I agree. Ms. Cline is much worse.
Kenhyderal: "If this becomes just another cesspool of hate like "Liestoppers", I'm out of here."
Just like kilgo and justice58 and the Deacon, kenny can't take the heat and abandons the kitchen.
"Mr. Nifong didn't just conjure up the scenario... he investigated and prosecuted a complaint."
That is correct. Crystal Mangum, in an attempt to avoid committment, conjured up the scenario.
However, Mr. Nifong took the scenario and ran with it, declaring members of the Lacrosse team guilty before there was any evidence in, then determining he would prosecute even though the evidence, when it came in, exonerated the members of the Lacrosse team.
"...'The Angel Brilliante' would work."
Sideny, an angel does not persecute innocent men falsely accused of a crime. Only a demon does something like that.
This just in.
Tracey Cline fails again to have Judge Hudson removed from a case.
She is truly out of control at this point.
Anonymous said...
Oh i see. In this country you are guilty till proven innocent? Hmmm thought it was the other way around ,sid. So you are saying that men who drink are more likely to rape and pillage. Wow. Then women who drink are more likely to be whores? Is that it? Or perhaps women who go to motels with paid drivers, dressed in little more than their underwear, and have five male samples in and on them...... Are more likly to be , uh , what, sid?
What a crock. Even you, with your limited grasp of reality, ought to be able to grasp the fundamentals of our justice system, Including NOT presuming someone is guilty of XXX because they are YYY. I dont presume sister is a whore because of her behavior. Why do you presume the players were rapists because of theirs?
I give the presumption of innocent to all suspects of crime. I have never said that the Duke Lacrosse defendants were guilty. They were charged with crimes which the Attorney General's office later dismissed. They, however, were never legally proclaimed innocent by a jury or a judge in lieu of a jury as the biased mainstream media would have the world believe.
Have you been enlightened?
Walt said...
"Walt, I have given that serious thought. Last gubernatorial election in 2008 I voted for Independent Mike Munger... and I am glad I did." Actually Mike ran on the Libertarian ticket. Although he's not really a Libertarian. It is odd, but we find ourselves in agreement supporting Munger. I was about to vote for him, until I realized that McCrory might just beat Perdue. I decided that I'd rather get rid of a corrupt old Easley crony than vote my conscience. I was right to vote for McCrory, I'll do it again unless the Democrats dump Perdue. Only then would I give their candidate a serious look.
"I would be reticent about voting for any Republican because of their positions regarding health care and the disparity in wealth in this country."
If you want to feel good, vote Democtratic, if you want to do good, vote GOP. That's just a saying, but it tends to work out.
Hey, Walt. I'm sure that that saying works out well for the well heeled, big businesses, and mega-corporations. The Republicans are all about increasing the wealth of the wealthiest at the expense of the poor. The wealthy have health insurance and they could care less about the many who are unable to afford it. If Republicans cared about the country, they would do away with the ridiculous Bush Tax cuts for the wealthy, increase the tax burden of the rich and big corporations, and allow regulations to keep banking institutions in check to prevent a repeat of the world economic crisis which the wealthy bankers in the United States created with their bundled bad loans. Furthermore they would keep regulations in place to protect the environment and not allow energy companies to frack pristine land to contaminate the ground water with carcinogens and other chemicals. Republicans are all for the few wealthy, not the majority of those who are struggling.
If given the opportunity, I would probably vote Independent...(from the left) but never Republican.
Anonymous said...
Sid: Mr. Nifong... investigated... a complaint.
I thought Nifong's position was that the DPD--and not Nifong--was responsible for the investigation (Nifong has absolute immunity for his actions as prosecutor, but only qualified immunity for any actions as investigator). Do you believe Nifong bears any responsibility for the DPD investigation?
Kenhyderal has described the DPD investigation as "botched" and "sloppy." His comments have been instrumental in raising questions about it on prior threads.
Will you answer questions about the DPD investigation? Your insight may help your readers assess the completeness of that investigation.
When I used the term "investigate" I meant basically to "look into." I didn't mean that Mr. Nifong went around dusting for fingerprints, swabbing surfaces for DNA, etc. The Durham Police Department, to my knowledge, conducted the actual investigation, and to suggest that Mr. Nifong was acting as an investigator is ludicrous. Mr. Nifong was acting as a prosecutor. Of course Defense Attorney Joseph Cheshire and the other defense attorneys would like to blur the lines of responsibility in order to confuse people like you. Don't let them do it.
Anonymous said...
"...'The Angel Brilliante' would work."
Sideny, an angel does not persecute innocent men falsely accused of a crime. Only a demon does something like that.
I will go along with that as I think the term "demon" could easily be applied to Prosecutors Tom Ford, Bill Wolfe, and Michael Parker. I have never persecuted or prosecuted or even had an ill thought about the Duke Lacrosse defendants. So, I therefore should retain my "angel" status... right?
Sid:
I object to the tone of your 12:00pm comment. I did not suggest that Nifong was responsible for the DPD investigation. Your earlier comment was poorly worded; it implied that Nifong had some responsibility for the investigation.
As I noted, kenhyderal has described the DPD investigation as "botched" and "sloppy." His comments have been instrumental in raising questions about it.
Will you address the DPD investigation in your comments? I can repeat the questions raised on earlier threads for your reactions. Your readers would benefit from your insight.
I note that criticism of the quality of the DPD investigation is not criticism of Nifong. If the DPD "botched" their investigation as kenhyderal suggests, it is possible that Gottlieb and Himan misled Nifong.
An anonymous posters says "Sideny, an angel does not persecute innocent men"
Sid replies "I have never persecuted...or even had an ill thought about the Duke Lacrosse defendants"
Ergo, Sid considers the Duke LAX defendants innocent, even though he argues otherwise.
Sideny: "I have never persecuted or prosecuted or even had an ill thought about the Duke Lacrosse defendants."
In the words of South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson, "YOU LIE".
"So, I therefore should retain my "angel" status... right?"
Just as right as Satan retaining his own angel status.
"...to suggest that Mr. Nifong was acting as an investigator is ludicrous."
So why did you say(not suggest but say) that Mr. Nifong investigated the complaint?
Sideny, I again quote SC Congressman Joe Wilson: "YOU LIE".
Sideny(againnshowing his skewed view of the justice system as it applies to the wrongfully accused Lacrosse players): "First of all, their innocence has not been legitimately determined."
Sideny, the justice system determines only whether the accused is guilty or not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Until and unless that happens, the accused is presumed innocent.
In the case of the innocent, wrongfully accused Lacrosse players, they areinnocent because no crime happened for them to commit.
And you claim you respect the presumption of innocence. You are seriously deluded.
Sideny, you have admitted you are not familiar with the details of the investigation. Some of the detils with which you are not familiar are that the members of the DPD who investigated they were told to report to Mr. Nifong directly.
Lance the Intern:
The picture of Tracey Cline which goes along with the article is absolutely perfect.
Tracey, you go, girl.
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