Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Quick Hits: Volume CC (UPDATE: Guyger sentence handed down)

- If you live in the Twin Cities area, you've undoubtedly heard that President Trump is holding a rally in Minneapolis next week Thursday. In reaction to this announcement, boy mayor Jacob Frey expressed his displeasure with Trump's visit, going so far as to say Minneapolis "will stand not behind the President."

Naturally, some of the more right-of-center rags leapt to Trump's defense by condemning Frey's reaction.

Frey and (City Council President Lisa) Bender should also recognize that they represent all Minneapolis residents — not just those who support their party or preferred candidates or officeholders.

Trump’s rallies nearly always attract large, enthusiastic crowds — including in Minnesota. The Minneapolis rally will be the president’s fourth visit to the state in the past 16 months. He attended a Tax Day event in Burnsville in April, and visited Duluth and Rochester in 2018. The Rochester event drew an estimated 11,000 people.

Trump narrowly lost Minnesota in 2016 and has vowed to win the state in 2020. His campaign strategists know that news media coverage of his Minnesota visits is also closely followed in western Wisconsin counties that helped him capture the state in 2016 — and the Minneapolis rally will no doubt attract attendees from surrounding states.

Under a national spotlight, Frey and Bender had an opportunity to rise above partisan politics and showcase Minneapolis as a welcoming community — even for those with whom they disagree. It’s a shame they chose to convey a very different message.

Not surprising that a right wing organization like the Center of the American Experiment would so articulately convey how Minneapolis city officials erred in their statements. But it is rather shocking that the excerpt I cited is actually from a piece put forth by the Minneapolis Star Tribune Editorial Board. 

Blind squirrel, acorn and all that.


- Some shocking news on the presidential campaign trail.

Bernie Sanders experienced chest discomfort during a campaign event Tuesday evening and had two stents inserted to address a blockage in an artery, his campaign announced.

“Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days," senior adviser Jeff Weaver said in a statement Wednesday. "We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates.”

Stuff like this should transcend partisan politics. I hope you're back out on the trail soon, Senator.


- Just over a year ago, a white female police officer shot dead an unarmed black man in his own home. It was an incident so shocking that I had trouble believing Amanda Guyger's account, which was she mistook the apartment of Botham Jean (the victim) for her own. She then opened fire since she thought she was walking in on a burglary of her residence (Jean lived in the unit directly above Guyger's apartment).

I never really ascertained how someone could not be aware they were on a totally different floor from which they resided. Nevertheless, the jury in Guyger's case was told they could consider the "Castle Doctrine," which gives a resident immunity if it's determined they used justifiable force against an intruder in their home. Again, this too didn't make sense, as this incident did not occur in Guyger's home. Regardless, the jury obviously didn't give it much consideration as Guyger was found guilty of murder.

Given that police officers in the recent past have been exonerated on incidents similarly horrific, David French at NRO notes the Guyger decision is a welcome course correction.

No serious person argues that juries should be biased against cops. Indeed, it’s vital that they understand the full scope of the risks inherent in lawful encounters when rendering verdicts. But for too long juries have demonstrated bias for police officers, applying a level of grace and deference far beyond what the law permits. Today’s verdict in Texas isn’t just an act of justice, it’s a vital correction to a culture that has sometimes allowed men and women in uniform to abide by a lower standard of behavior than applies to the average citizen of the United States.

Now we await the actual length of the sentence.

UPDATE: Guyger given 10 years, which seems light. Regardless, Mr. Jean's family showed a kind of grace which only comes from knowing Jesus. 

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