Taser Attack on Student: abuse of power, banality of evil, lack of judgment and creative problem-solving skills...

As a graduate of the UC system, I am disgusted and appalled -- based on the facts as I currently know them -- by the apparent laziness of campus cops apparently preferring to rely on the ease of brute force over appropriate problem-solving strategies in their role as community servants.

I also have to seriously wonder if the fact that the student's name is Mostafa Tabatabainejad has any bearing on their readiness to use (potentially) deadly force against him for NOT HAVING HIS STUDENT I.D. CARD WHILE BEING IN THE LIBRARY after 11:00 PM. Lordy mercy! Has anyone else ever forgotten their ID or driver's license or Sam's Club card?

Tabatabainejad was hit by the Taser five times and suffered "moderate to severe contusions" on his right side.

The university said earlier, however, that Tabatabainejad was asked for his ID as part of a routine nightly procedure to make sure that everyone using the library after 11 p.m. is a student or otherwise authorized to be there. Campus officials have said the long-standing policy was adopted to ensure students' safety.

UCLA also said that Tabatabainejad refused repeated requests by a community service officer and regular campus police to provide identification or to leave. UCLA said the police decided to use the Taser to incapacitate Tabatabainejad only after the student urged other library patrons to join his resistance.

Some witnesses disputed that account, saying that when campus police arrived, Tabatabainejad had begun to walk toward the door.

If you're not yet familiar with the story, see the LATimes, Daily Bruin (Daily Bruin's first story here), and of course the raw video is at YouTube with an L.A. TV news report here which interviewed an eye witness who strenuously objected to the actions of campus cops.

The guy may have been an asshole. He may have been rude to campus cops. He may not have been totally cooperative. No reports indicate that he was violent. How does rudeness or being uncooperative require being brutally tasered as opposed to being given the old heave-ho so favored by bouncers and others who deal routinely with unruly patrons? Haven't these people taken assertiveness training and communications classes?

Don't forget Stanley Milgram's Obedience to Authority research, further explored so chillingly by Philip Zimbardo of Stanford in the Prisoner/Prison Guard experiment which had to be halted because the 'guards' became so enthusiastic and abusive in their powers over the 'prisoners' -- all were randomly chosen students.

There are so few incidents requiring campus security staff to ever use their force training, that there are some (too many) who are unusually ready for any excuse to go overboard -- they all drool for the possibility to carry weapons, especially guns -- that I am not surprised that given a taser, they will gleefully use it. (I also worked and taught on college campuses so this statement is knowledge-based, not speculation).

These kamikaze cops also threatened to taze other distraught student witnesses who demanded to know their badge numbers as well. I smell multi-million dollar lawsuits on the horizon.

Unfortunately average citizens who are not students will not have access to the legal resources available at major universities -- and with the Patriot Act and other erosion of constitutional and civil liberties, citizens yet have fewer rights than ever before.

Just an aside, but: Ever notice law enforcement and military proclivity for fascist-style facial hair from the WWII era?

UPDATE: Yep, the LA Times reports the student has hired well-known civil suit attorney Stephen Yagmen (who has successfully sued LAPD and other law enforcement agencies). Go get 'em Yag!

Daily Bruin News UCLA students taser tazer UC system UCLA news video campus cops police abuse Campus News campus police You Tube YouTube

The Back-Pedaling, Side-Stepping Race for '08 Liar in Chief is ON!

News Alert! McCain to "Explore" running for President in 2008
A picture's worth ... priceless.

NBC Russert Meet the Press News Scandals Politics Commentary Bush Republicans Democrats McCain John McCain Iraq War Iraq 2008 Elections 2006 Elections

Rejected: the Politics of Meanness, Bullying, Rigidity, Stubbornness, Dishonesty, Oppressiveness, Corruption, Hubris, INCOMPETENCE

News Scandals Politics Commentary Bush Republicans Democrats McCain John McCain Iraq War Iraq 2008 Elections 2006 Elections Rejected Voters Cheney Rumsfeld

Reasons Why the Dems MIGHT Just Win in 2008: an ongoing series

ONE Big Reason Why the Dems MIGHT Just Win in 2008

Exhibit #1: Rahm Emmanuel of Illinois. Although he needs to hire a better speech writer for some minor tweaking, his 'acceptance' speech on behalf of the new Democratic House of Representatives a little while ago showed Vision, Flexibility and Practical Pragmatism.

He represents the new vanguard and the best of the new Democratic party -- Reid & Pelosi (and the repugnacons) represent the past.

With Rahm, all things are possible.

Reasons why the Dems are STILL likely to blow it in 2008: part of a continuing series

Reasons why the Dems are very likely to blow it in 2008 (unless they make some major attitude -- & leadership -- adjustments):

Exemplar #1 Democratic Senator Harry Reid: Talking on MSNBC to the courageous and brilliant Keith Olbermann around 10:35 EST. Reid said "I'm so glad the American people listened to us on Iraq" and all these important issues.

WRONG WRONG WRONG! There you go again Harry! Proving that arrogance, narcissism and hubris are more than ever the inherent ugly non-beating deadened heart of post-modern political culture -- the ever-growing culture of corruption (the corruption of absolute power ala Lord Acton), the hubris and arrogance that afflicts BOTH parties.

Harry really doesn't get it -- (Michael Kinsley had a great piece in WP & the Guardian today entitled "Thank God I Voted First" about the Pelosi version of this bullshit.)

Nance, Harry -- you guys really truly better learn to LISTEN to WE the PEOPLE -- us, the voters, the voices, the plain ole working citizens who really are sick and tired of the crap.

And if they don't learn that lesson within the next few weeks -- the Dems will go down in flames in 2008 -- and they will deserve to.

Meanwhile the repugnacons have it even worse with their assholes: John McCain continues to 'flip flop' twist, contort and lie (most disingenuously) out of both sides of his mouth -- such as blaming the coarse, crude, racist ads on 527s but not mentioning that they came from his own party.

And now Kenny "queer-in-the-closet self-hating-homo power-kissing pansy-boy coward" Mehlman is preaching bipartisanship -- yep, now that they're losing. What a bunch losers and liars alright. Well, if they keep that level of lying and affectation up (things like saying 'newk-yellur', the dems might slide by in '08 -- but only if they keep Kerry on the sidelines and don't turn into the flip-side of the arrogant power-over coin. (I sincerely have my doubts that either side is capable of authentic redemption as a party -- they simply crave power OVER and revenge instead of solving problems and power sharing WITH and on BEHALF.

The ambition, greed, lust for power in these people is so naked and transparent -- and from now on it will be on full display (for anyone who chooses to remove the blinders).

But I really get the feeling this nation is beyond sick of ALL the disingenousness, lying, inauthenticiy and crap -- I sure hope so!)...and this election may have the effect of empowering regular people to take back the power.

The game is afoot. And yet: They all make me sick.

Progressive Democratic Recommendations for Florida Judges

Vote for the Judges (and other candidates) who are not supported by the right-wing fundamentalists!

I have been shocked and disappointed to not be able to discover any progressive or democratic voter guides on Florida the amendments -- but most importantly -- progressive / democratic recommendations on the judges in the state of Florida.

(the democratic party recommends a straight party ticket -- well DUH! That's a real helpful obvious choice but judges don't have party affiliations)

Anyway, the best advice I have received is to review what the right-wingers are recommending and go the opposite direction!

One such source for radical rightwing theocracy-loving christian fundamentalists comes from the so-called Florida Family Policy Council which endorses right wing fundamentalist theocratic principles and would be happy to impose their fascist ideology on all Floridians, indeed, all US citizens (and throughout the world for that matter).

You can find their 2006 Voter Guides in PDF format at http://www.flfamily.org/ffpcnew3.php?alertid=107 and these are the Florida County by County Voter Guides http://www.flfamily.org/ffpcnew3.php?alertid=121 Remember to review carefully and vote no on the ones they support and no on the ones they try to show in a bad light. (it's confusing, take your time getting it right)

It's obvious they support all Republicans by the type and amount of information they provide. Read carefully.

But, not being a Floridian by citizenship nor knowing Florida cases or case law, to me some of the language is intentionally obtuse and confusing because they don't (and legally CAN'T) come right out and say "we endorse so and so" -- they indicate whether a candidate supports certain cases or certain positions and they use the statement that certain judges/justices "merit retention."

So those who are more familiar with Florida cases can perhaps enlighten me as to what some of the language means and what the progressive positions on the cases are.

Meanwhile the South, especially Tennessee will prove they prefer to remain stuck in a pre-1950s mindset instead of joining the 21st century. How surprising.

Get out there and VOTE and don't take NO for an answer because the vote suppressors and vote stealers are actively trying to deny your right (and responsibility) to participate as a citizen in changing what's happening to our country.

And I've already heard of voter suppression -- well-known, totally expected -- occurring in Jacksonville. No body down here seems to have a clue how to help voters or get out the vote.

No wonder the democrats continue to lose in this state and so many others that have been given over to the right wing and repubs!!!

And remember, if the right wingers are for 'em, don't go there!

I'll try to update further if I find any additional information about this stuff.