Jan
22
22
Land of Confusion
Leaving aside the merits (or lack of) of the case, we’ve never seen anyone treat tampering and destroying evidence quite like this. Live from Renew America’s Chip McLean:
The story of Border Patrol agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos is probably known to you by now [link], The agents made a procedural mistake in the aftermath, by gathering and disposing of the spent shell casings. Because they didn’t believe they had injured Aldrete-Davila, they didn’t mention the shooting in their report. [Emphasis added, criminal activity in the original].
A procedural mistake [Interrobang]. Is there anything that isn’t allowed when dealing with a foreigner? [Sadly, No!]
Righteous Bubba said,
January 22, 2007 at 0:58
Did they say oops? Because if you say oops you get a pass.
RSA said,
January 22, 2007 at 1:09
Maybe it’s just the context, but does anyone else look at Chip McLean’s picture and think of Orson Welles in A Touch of Evil? Okay, the cheesy moustache is more Charleton Heston, but still. . .
Some Guy said,
January 22, 2007 at 1:15
When is it procedure to not report discharging your firearm*, even if you don’t hit anything? Maybe I’m just unlearned in this.
*Snoty way to say “make boomstick loud noise.”
teh l4m3 said,
January 22, 2007 at 1:54
I’m shocked. I’d come to firmly believe that Republicans stood for the rule of law!
Hype-Jersey said,
January 22, 2007 at 2:36
Lou Dobbs has been beating this story to death. According to his view on CNN, these 2 border patrol agents were just “heroic americans” trying to protect the country against evil drug smugglers. The government gave immunity to the drug smuggler and gave these 2 heros who were innocently trying to protect america, long jail sentences. They barely mention that these border patrol agents knowingly broke rules by 1) firing on an unarmed person who was not a threat and 2) not reporting the incident. It is IMPOSSIBLE to take a stand against these guys without being labeled a terrorist sympathizer or a drug smuggler sympathizer or someone who is against protecting the borders and plain old, working american heros. It is making me sick. We aren’t getting the full story on CNN. On CNN. It’s maddening to me. CNN is not presenting the whole story. Lou Dobbs is a champion spinmeister.
J— said,
January 22, 2007 at 2:37
Citizen Conservative writing at The American Daily:
Anti-immigrant wingnuts have been so bonkers on this case, the U.S. Justice Department felt the need to put out a press release entitled “Myth vs. Reality—The Facts of Why the Government Prosecuted Agents Compean and Ramos” (pdf).
agc said,
January 22, 2007 at 2:38
I think the Pubs are willing to cut the guys some slack here because they were law enforcement shooting at an Mexican smuggler. The reason I think these guys are attracting so much attention is because it gives pubs an opportunity to show that they don’t hate Latino-ness per se.
I don’t think Welles had a ‘stash in ToE. You may be thinking of Charleton Heston’s character. Though Chip does look mas authentico compared to Chuck (not to pour too much derision because w/o Chuck, Welles would never have had a chance at the job).
Tehanu said,
January 22, 2007 at 2:59
It will be abundantly clear that America’s “conservative� president is actually a Mexican mole [my emphasis] pretending to be loyal to America.
Chimpy is a chocolate sauce? Nah, can’t be — he’d have some actual nutritional value if he was.
Some Guy said,
January 22, 2007 at 3:15
J – Don’t forget the the Sate Government ( the state where our current Mole-President is from, no less!) is simply a puppet of the Mexican Imperial Government. You can’t trust ANYTHING they say! Only trust what Fox News tells you! Governments have incentive to lie and spin, for-profit corporations do not!
Christ, this happened two years ago? I would have thought this was a month old, from all the crap it’s getting.
Tara the anti-social social worker said,
January 22, 2007 at 5:21
If I forget to tell you when driving off with your car, it’s just a “procedural mistake.”
Marq said,
January 22, 2007 at 8:04
It’s OK ‘cos they have hispanic-sounding names.
Doug H. said,
January 22, 2007 at 14:20
CNN actually made me do a rare thing… actually agree almost completely with President Bush. I caught this story the other day and was floored at all the coverage the agents’ defenders got, not to mention their tearjerking goodbyes with their family. They left it to, of all people, the President to say “Uh, they got convicted by a jury of their peers, and you want me to give ‘em a pardon right now before you’ve even started appeals?” The blind squirrel finally found his nut.
billy pilgrim said,
January 22, 2007 at 18:01
Another Genesis ref in the sadly Posts.
Well played, Gentlemen.
MCH said,
January 22, 2007 at 19:19
From Justice:
“In America, law enforcement officers do not get to shoot unarmed suspects who are running away, lie about it to their supervisors and file official reports that are false. That is a crime and prosecutors cannot look the other way.”
It’s sad that this is a SURPRISE to some folks.
thebewilderness said,
January 23, 2007 at 2:28
Two things.
Since when do law enforcement officers get away with failing to account for brass(bullets)?
Dobbs take on this is that they have been convicted of doing their job. Since when is shooting unarmed suspects in the back and lying about it part of the job?
Sadly, No! » If you have to ask… said,
January 24, 2007 at 23:46
[...] Jerome Corsi asks a simple question: What crime is committed when two Border Patrol agents* shoot in the buttocks a fleeing drug smuggler who has abandoned a van containing 743 pounds of marijuana? [...]