Camden (NJ) disbands police department

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The Grio

Recognized as one of the most dangerous cities in America, Camden New Jersey is reported to be disbanding its police department as part of an austerity measure that would leave almost 270 officers without jobs.

In a move that has been criticized and considered to be a union-busting tactic, the officers that are retained would be part of a new non-union division of the Camden County Police department.

According to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer, under the layoff plan designed by Camden Mayor Dana L. Reed, the 270 officers would serve their last day on the force by December 31st of this year, while field training for the county force that is dedicated only to serving Camden could being as early as October.

The crime rate in Camden is thought to be so high that the police force doesn’t respond to minor incidents like auto theft and vandalism.

Professional Liar Karl Rove Drops Welfare Whopper To Deflect From "Pants On Fire" Romney Ads

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Media Matters

Fox News' Karl Rove distorted President Obama's record on welfare reform, falsely claiming the administration "will not approve any policies which reduce the level of welfare assistance." In fact, the letter Rove cited as evidence said the administration would not grant waivers to states if their program would block access to the benefit programs. It did not declare that states could not reduce the level of assistance.

In recent weeks, Rove's American Crossroads has been cheering and enabling Mitt  Romney's dishonest campaign to accuse the Obama administration of stripping work requirements out of welfare reform. In fact, the waiver program simply grants states flexibility in figuring out how to comply with federal guidelines on transitioning aid recipients to work.

Rove appeared on the August 27 edition of Fox's America Live to discuss the Republican National Convention. After Fox's Juan Williams pointed out that the Romney campaign has made false claims about Obama, including the false claim that "welfare is going to be expanded under President Obama," Rove pushed back. According to Rove, a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the administration would not approve "any policies which reduce the level of welfare assistance."

Federal judge approves DOJ settlement over Seattle police department

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Jurist

A judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Washington [official website] on Friday tentatively approved a settlement agreement between the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Seattle relating to a DOJ investigation of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) [official websites]. Judge James Robart gave provisional approval for the agreement [joint motion, PDF], which will implement a package of reforms that overhauls police rules, especially on the use of force, and installs an independent monitor to oversee the department and make regular reports to the court and public.

GOP to America: 'We Built It.' But Who's the We? (built "it" off the backs of slaves)

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ColorLines

Today's official theme at the forlorn Tampa gathering is "We Built It." The GOP doesn't specify who the "we" are or what the "it" is exactly.

With zero percent support amongst blacks for the Republican ticket, African Americans have apparently concluded that the "we" is not them. The 44-point gap amongst Latinos and the 33-point gap amongst youth would seem to suggest that these groups believe the same.

That's because on jobs--the number one issue important to black and brown America, young people, and the country as a whole--Mitt Romney is largely silent.

Up to 100 Korans burned in Afghanistan: U.S. military investigation

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Citizens for Legit Gov

A U.S. military investigation released on Monday determined that American troops burned up to 100 Korans and other religious materials in Afghanistan during a February incident that led to deadly riots and strained relations between the two countries. Six soldiers received administrative punishments over the incident, which the investigation concluded was due to factors that included a lack of trust between Americans and Afghans.

Picture of Michelle Obama Meant to Show that Although she is 1st lady she is still Considered a Slave by many

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madamenoire.com

Yes, that’s who you think it is. The wife of Barack Obama, the right-hand woman of the Commander-in-Chief of our nation, the First Lady of the United States; naked, nude, depicted as a slave on the cover of the August issue of the Spanish magazine, Fuera de Serie. Seated wrapped in an American flag, with one breast exposed, and a wrap around her head in the likeness of the famous Afro-Guadeloupean female slave painted by French artist Marie-Guilhelmine Benoist in 1800, the weekly lifestyle supplement to the Spanish newspaper Expansión wants to convey como “Michelle Se Come A Obama (Michelle eats Obama).”

It’s hard to say which came first, the clever headline that accompanies the feature on the Flotus, “Michelle Tataranieta De Esclava, Dueña De América” (Michelle great-great granddaughter of a slave, owner of America) or the brilliant idea to use artist Karine Percheron-Daniels’ nude image of her. But one thing that is consistently clear throughout the entire piece, whether by imagery or word choice, is the idea that Michelle Obama is and always will be a slave in far too many people’s eyes, no matter how far we’re removed from physical enslavement, and how high of a position she’s climbed to in society. [MORE] 

Israel issues disproprtionate response to South African move on settlement produce

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Mideast Monitor

South Africa's cabinet has decided that all goods produced in illegal Jewish settlements must be labelled as originating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This is the culmination of several months of consultation, with the trade ministry inviting public comment back in May, saying that the labels should be introduced so that consumers are "not misled".

"This is in line with South Africa's stance that recognises the 1948 borders delineated by the United Nations and does not recognise occupied territories beyond these borders as being part of the state of Israel," government spokesman Jimmy Manyi told a press conference.

On the face of it, it all sounds quite straightforward. Not a single foreign government supports the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law. There is a substantial movement even within Israel to boycott goods produced over the so-called "Green Line", and this represents the far more moderate side of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. In fact, it is worth noting that South Africa is not advocating a boycott of these goods, simply clear labelling, and it has no bearing on goods produced in mainland Israel.

However, that is not how the Israeli Foreign Ministry sees it, releasing a very strongly worded statement: "Such exclusion and discrimination bring to mind ideas of a racist nature which the government of South Africa, more than any other, should have wholly rejected."

This reaction is completely out of proportion, particularly given that South Africa cites its history of apartheid, oppression and human rights abuses as the reason it backs the Palestinian cause. This view was summarised by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said in 1989: "If you changed the names, the description of what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank would be a description of what is happening in South Africa."

The relationship between Israel and South Africa has never been easy. Israel had close ties to the white, apartheid regime, which fell in 1994. Although Israel nominally participated in western sanctions against South Africa from the 1980s, it retained a behind-closed-doors trade and defence relationship with the apartheid government. Prior to that, the two countries collaborated in military training and weapons development. The African National Congress has long-standing links to Palestinian freedom movements, and many leading figures have denounced Israel's policies. "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians," said Nelson Mandela in a speech in Pretoria in 1997.

US Neo-Nazi music scene flourishing

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Aljazeera 

A recent mass killing at a Sikh temple in the United States has put neo-Nazi music into the spotlight.

The gunman, Wade Michael Page, was a white supremacist who played in several bands.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, music sales are a primary source of income for racist groups and a rich recruiting ground for new members.

There is also evidence that Neo-Nazis have a presence in the institution that Americans say they most admire: the US military

Jeb Bush: GOP ‘Needs To Change… Reach Out To A Much Broader Audience Than We Do Today’

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ThinkProgress

This morning on NBC, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush delivered a pointed critique of the modern Republican party. Bush acknowledged that that the GOP “needs to change” and “reach out to a much broader audience.”

Bush insisted, however, that the problems with the Republican Party would not impact this year’s election. 

"Right On": Conservative Media Applaud, Defend Romney For Birther Comment

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Media Matters

Conservative media figures are defending and applauding Mitt Romney for invoking at a Michigan rally the false conspiracy theory that President Obama was not born in the United States.

Romney Makes Birth Certificate Comment At Rally

Romney: "No One's Ever Asked To See My Birth Certificate." At an August 24 rally in Michigan, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said:

ROMNEY: I love being home, in this place where Ann and I were raised, where both of us were born. Ann was born at Henry Ford Hospital. I was born at Harper Hospital. No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place that we were born and raised. [Talking Points Memo, 8/24/12]

"Right On, Right On": Conservatives Cheer Romney's Birther Remark

Limbaugh: "Right On, Right On, Right On." On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh aired audio of Romney's comments and responded, "right on, right on, right on." From the August 24 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: Mitt Romney and Ryan, drawing a huge crowd in Michigan. And get this.

ROMNEY [audio clip]: I love being home in this place where Ann and I were raised, where both of us were born. No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place that we were born and raised.

LIMBAUGH: Right on, right on, right on. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 8/24/12]

Limbaugh: Romney Is "Test-Driving" Birther Line. Later in his show, Limbaugh suggested that Romney's "line is a test drive.

Empire State Building shooting victim says NYPD fired 'randomly' into street

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Citizens for Legit Gov

Questions have been raised over the New York Police Department's handling of a shooting near the Empire State Building after armed officers injured nine passers-by as they pursued a gunman who had just shot dead his former boss. One of those injured by police told the Guardian that officers appeared to fire "randomly" as they confronted Jeffrey Johnson, 58. Reports suggest that while Johnson drew his gun when he was confronted by officers, he did not fire; all those injured appear to have been shot by police.

Obama attacks Romney's 'extreme views' while pledging to implement more GOP proposals in second term

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Citizens for Legit Gov

President Barack Obama said Mitt Romney has locked himself into "extreme positions" on economic and social issues and would surely impose them if elected, trying to discredit his Republican rival at the biggest political moment of his life. Mr Obama also offered a glimpse of how he would govern in a second term of divided government, insisting rosily that the forces of the election would help break Washington's stalemate. He said he would be willing to make a range of compromises with Republicans [as he's done since January 2009], confident there are some who would rather make deals than remain part of "one of the least productive Congresses in American history."

Pennsylvania Supreme Court expedites challenge to state voter ID law

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The Jurist

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court [official website] on Thursday agreed to expedite its hearing [order, PDF] of the challenge to the state's new voter ID law [HB 943 materials]. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court [official website] declined to issue an injunction [JURIST report] against the law last week. The decision prompted the challengers, 10 voters and several rights groups including the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Racism is Costing Australia

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Sbs.com

Racism is costing Australia and taking a toll on communities, the race discrimination commissioner says.

A national strategy to help stamp out racism was launched in Melbourne on Friday. Federal race discrimination commissioner Dr Helen Szoke said racism not only exists in Australia, but costs the country "financially and culturally". "We're going to have a go at identifying racism," Dr Szoke told the launch on Friday.

"We're going to make the point that racism can take a real toll on people's lives and communities."

The strategy was launched on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission and is backed by a campaign, "Racism stops with me".

Federal Multicultural Affairs Minister Kate Lundy said the strategy was about encouraging people to challenge racism and put an end to discrimination. "Racism discounts the contribution thousands of migrants have made to our nation," Senator Lundy said.

Already Struggling to Attract the Best & Brightest - Hampton University Dean Bans Cornrows and Dreads

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Complex.com

This is well beyond the generation gap, it's just flat-out sad. Sid Credle, the Dean of Hampton University's Business School, has banned MBA students from wearing cornrows or dreadlocks. If Credle has an issue with students choosing to wear their hair however they like at the Virginia historically black college, that's fine, but his opinion shouldn't be forced upon students. Especially when it's articulated like this:

Dean Credle disagrees and says when people criticize the ban for denying cultural aspects of style, he believes cornrows and dreadlocks have not been a historically professional look.

"I said when was it that cornrows and dreadlocks were a part of African American history?"

Credle added, "I mean Charles Drew didn't wear, Muhammad Ali didn't wear it. Martin Luther King didn't wear it."