Apology not accepted.

I realize that dumping a candidate this late during an election is something any leader would want to avoid, and I commend Ignatieff for having cut Andre Forbes over his racist comments, although a more rigid background check would have prevented his candidacy in the first place.  His words weren't a mistake.  They reflect his attitude and beliefs, an attitude and beliefs the Liberal party claims it condemns.

John Reilly, Liberal candidate for Wildrose also said some things that the Liberal party claims it condemns, but this time, Ignatieff forgives him and leaves him in place.  The man regrets it, Ignatieff tells us, and even tries to appeal to our sense of pity by saying that the former judge will have to live with the comments the rest of his life.

Oh?  And the consequences?  He still gets to run in the election.  I guess living with it won't be so bad after all.

Like Forbes' words, Reilly's reflect an attitude and beliefs.  In fact, even after apologizing, he said he made a political error but still believes not all sex offenders should be incarcerated.  He claims he used a clumsy example first time around.  OK, so what sexual offense crimes deserve a walk?

It doesn't matter if Reilly had a "long and distinguished career."  It doesn't matter if he made many good choices.  This one stance is not one a progressive party should give a pass on.  Sexual assault cannot be deemed anything else simply because the guy was young, or stupid, or helplessly turned on because the unconscious woman was naked.  That just gives would be rapists permission to abuse situations.

What year is this?

Holy fucking KKKops!!!!

(image)

A judge has condemned a handful of Ottawa police officers for a strip search in which a young woman had her shirt and bra cut off, and was left half-naked in a jail cell for three hours. Moments before Stacy Bonds -- a 27-year-old with no criminal record -- was stripped of her clothes, she was also the victim of "two extremely violent knee hits in the back ... and has her hair pulled back and her face shoved forward," Justice Richard Lajoie said in an Oct. 27 oral ruling made after he reviewed the police station videotape that captured the events of Sept. 26, 2008.

Now before any of you people who defend cops every damn time without bothering to hear the facts say  "there's more tah this story.  She musta dun somethin'," read on -

...The incident began when Ms. Bonds was stopped by police in downtown Ottawa. After running her name and coming up with nothing, they told the young, black makeup artist to keep walking on home. But after a few steps, she turned back and asked why Ottawa Police bothered to stop her in the first place.

That's when things took a rapid turn. They arrested her for public intoxication -- which Judge Lajoie deemed unlawful because she was not drunk -- and cuffed her. Once Ms. Bonds was taken to Ottawa Police headquarters, the judge noted that she was anything but "violent or aggressive."...When Ms. Bonds was brought into the room, Judge Lajoie noted that she had "no hint of violence and no hint of being aggressive," describing her as "co-operative."

So for asking those who are paid to serve and protect why they had stopped her, they made up a false charge and - "Sgt. Steve Desjourdy cut off the woman's shirt and bra with scissors after she was forced to the floor with a plastic riot shield in the police department's booking room." - by three cops.  Who hung around as her clothing was cut from her.  I'd say that's sexual assault.

Good for Stacy Bonds for asking for answers, though I'm sorry for the brutality she suffered as a result.

The Judge stayed the charge against Ms. Bonds, saying he didn't want to be part of the "travesty."

Good for him, and thanks for his strong words.

And our fine, Ottawa KKKops?

Ottawa Police Chief Vern White said Tuesday that his force has launched an internal investigation into the case.

Oh, right, an internal investigation...sure, heads will roll, yeah, I feel safer already.




The press should publish the cops' photos.  We innocent people who occasionally take walks at night would like to be able to recognize the criminals cops should they be inclined to assault and frame serve and protect us so that we can protect ourselves thank them.