What Do You See In This Picture

President Barack Obama, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sergeant James Crowley walk from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden of the White House, July 30, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Soap Box Ravings is amazed at this picture Of President Barack Obama and his personal friend Professor Henry Louise Gates of Harvard on their way to have a beer with accused racist Sergeant Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department.

As a retired airport police officer, Soap Box Ravings would guess that this is not the first person with a cane Sergeant Crowley has ever helped down a flight of stairs.

On the other hand, the President appears to have no concern for his own friend as he seems to be out in front with a somewhat detached air about him.

As I cop, I learned to watch people's body language for clues to what they may do or say; my safety depended on it sometimes. The body language in this offical government photo released by the White House says volumes.

It Is Better To Keep Your Mouth Shut And Look Stupid Than To Open Your Mouth And Demonstrate Your Stupidity

Obama said that while “I don’t know all the facts” of the arrest or the role race played in it, the case highlighted “a long history in this country of African- Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately.” He also added: “That’s just a fact.”

ABC News

Soap Box Ravings invites you to look at the picture of the much abused Mr. Gates as he exits his house under arrest. I can see that his mouth is open, wide open. I doubt he is engaged in polite discourse. On the right is a police officer who looks exactly like someone trying to calm Mr. Gates down. On his left is an officer who is guiding Mr Gates by touch. Mr Gates is not subject to any type of hold causing him to comply. In short, a minimum amount of force is in use in this picture.In front of Mr. Gates is a police sergeant who looks like he is very tired of listening to Mr. Gates.

Now lets look at the facts:

A neighbor reports a possible burglary in progress on a house that has been previously burglarized.

A police sergeant comes to the house to ascertain if it is a burglary. At this point the officer probably does not know who owns the house, or who is allowed inside the house.

The police reports indicate that Mr. Gates goes hostile when questioned by the responding police sergeant, a white police officer..

The police sergeant, for the safety of Mr. Gates' and himself, is trying to determine if Mr. Gates is the homeowner and if so could there be unknown people in the house. I believe the reporting neighbor reported two black males breaking into the house. Also it is not unknown for a person present illegally to lie and claim to be the homeowner, such as a black man who could have stole Mr Gates' wallet. Plus there is also the question of where is the second man reported by the neighbor.

Mr Gates refused to talk about the situation politely but then it appears he tried to change a situation of his making, into a situation of racial harassment. Mr. Gates attempted to take control of the officer and his investigation. If the officer left without making positive identification and the officer had been fooled by a burglar, the real homeowner, Mr Gates would have really been incensed.

Lets look at some possible reasons for Mr Gates behavior:

He could be upset because the officer does not recognize him as an important person, or perhaps he is embarrassed because he had to break down his own door after not be able to open his door with the key and now a neighbor, the police radio and a white cop all know what he did.

Check here for some more thoughts on this issue:
http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/why_class_does_matter_in_the_gates_arrest_debate/

In Soap Box Ravings opinion, Mr gates is acting as an "elite or moneyed" person trying to place the situational blame elsewhere and in particular on someone, the officer, who Mr. Gates sees as less than his equal.

Obama also continued with "But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry."

Soap Box Ravings wonders why any homeowner would be pretty angry that a police officer showed up with regard to a "Burglary in Progress" call in the homeowners own residence that had suffered a previous burglary. He also wonders why a homeowner would claim harassment for being a Black man in America when the officer, who is there to specifically present to protect the homeowner.

In Soap Bax Ravings opinion, Obama acted like a black community organizer from Chicago, not the President of the United States. Soap Box Ravings feels that Obama acted in accordance with the teachings of Reverend Wright. The same Pastor he claimed never to have listened to for 20 years while he attended the Reverend Wright's church. Obama has certainly done his level best in this instance to set back police, community relationships in this country. But I guess this just adds to the growing chaos laid on this country by his administration. After all his administration said ‘no crisis should be allowed to go to waste’and I suppose that means even if he caused the crisis.

As a elitist, Obama finds it impossible to publicly apologize to the officers and department involved for his behavior, yet many continue to believe it is not all about him. Shame on him.

Obama also took another shot at police professionalism in his interview by reflecting that he'd hope the police were called if he were seen breaking into his own house. He then paused and said "I guess this is my house now," remarking of the White House. "Here I’d get shot."

In Soap Box Ravings opinion, the Secret Service which protects the President of the United States deals with erratic civilian behavior on a daily basis and as far as I know they shoot very, very, few of them. I think Obama has done a disservice to the organization sworn to protect him with his "open mouth , sink ships" comment.


Sunday, July 26, 2009 (Addition)
Gates Says Time to 'Move On' From Arrest
http://news.aol.com/article/henry-gates-says-move-on/579147

In this article from www.politicsdaily.com Gates promised to do all he could so others could learn from his arrest. "This could and should be a profound teaching moment in the history of race relations in America," Gates said. "I sincerely hope that the Cambridge police department will choose to work with me toward that goal."

Soap Box Ravings says that if you are present in your home after jimmying the door to gain access, commonly known as breaking and entering, and a police officer shows up responding to a "burglary in progress" call acting like an idiot may get you arrested regardless of your skin color or perceived social status.

Soap Box Ravings also says that since the elite Gates was involved, obviously it would have to be a "profound" teaching moment. Most likely, all of professor Gates teachings are "profound" since he is a Harvard professor (i.e., a person who professes to be an expert in some art or science).

In Soap Box Ravings' opinion, Gates agreed to have a beer with Obama and Crowley in order that he, Gates, and Obama can square that white boy away. It definitely would not be to resolve any perceived problem as neither Gates nor Obama have really expressed any remorse for their actions. In fact many think, Obama threw down his comments to distract and take the heat off of his health care plan.


Since 1991, Gates has been teaching African American studies at Harvard, where he serves as the director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. De Bois, an American civil rights activist, sociologist, historian and author, was an avowed communist and socialist sympathizer.

See: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105028 for more information regarding Mr Gates, his elitist beliefs and friends as well as his time at Harvard.

See: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104935 for more information on Obama's Cambridge history and also comments by activist Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of BOND Action, Inc. and entertainer Bill Cosby.

And Now It's The Social Security Administration Following The Lead Of Their Boss.

May 31, 2009The President and spouse leave the "Marine One" Helicopter en route to their aircraft to fly to NY City for a date night.

At the entrance of the aircraft carrying the President and his spouse to New York City is most likely a secret service agent. The majority of the agents accompanying the President will not fly on the Presidential aircraft. They and the required vehicles will be flown to New York by another aircraft. At least, they are not using the normal "Air Force One."

A copy of their itinerary. One also has to wonder what the expenses were for the City of New York who is required to backup all of the President's security.


The White House refused to say how much the trip cost taxpayers.


June 08, 2009Michelle One
When President Obama flew back to the United States on Air Force One after his Paris visit. His wife, two daughters and her mother did a bit of shopping in Paris before taking their own Boeing 757 (C-32) over to London to do some sight seeing. Do you know how big a Boeing 757 (C32) is?

The motorcade prepares to move Michelle Obama, her children and her mother through London. Do any of you wonder what this sightseeing trip cost the United States or The United Kingdom.


We all remember Obama's admonishment to corporate CEO's in February 2009:

"You can't get corporate jets, you can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers dime."

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceoY1h5SYkQ)


Apparently that doesn't apply to either him or his wife.


AND NOW WE HAVE THIS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PRESIDENT BARACK H. OBAMA:

July 9, 2009

Social Security Admin trains hundreds at Arizona Biltmore

Kay B. Day

The U.S. Social Security Administration is dubbed one of the best agencies to work for, and judging by a training conference, I can see why. Fox News scooped the training conference held at the Arizona Biltmore, a facility claiming to be "known throughout the world as the 'Jewel of the Desert.'"Every room has a well-stocked mini-bar and for the weight conscious, a scale. The SSA, Fox said, flew 700 managers to the resort for a conference with skits, a dance troupe, Casino Night and door prizes.

If you're recalling President Barack Obama's fit about private companies doing the wine- and-dine in exotic locations after taking taxpayer bailout money, you're not alone. The federal government spends taxpayer money with no shame, no integrity and no accountability.

The Fox reporter asked a SSA spokesman, "With withering criticism over the misuse of taxpayer dollars, many people will look at this and go, 'Wait, same thing.'"

The spokesman replied, "There's a clear distinction between the two. They received specific bailout dollars. We didn't. We're not using any recovery money. There's no ARA money involved in this."

That sort of brain-dead reasoning prevails in Washington. Bureaucrats think if the bucks don't come from one pot, it's fine if they come from another. There's a complete lack of consciousness regarding safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

Every taxpayer in the nation should send the SSA a bill for any federal funds used on this excursion .

With billions of tax dollars wasted on overpayment's, the SSA should be sending employees to stay in a wilderness camp. The only reason they won't: those people wouldn't survive the challenge.

The entire department management should be fired, and so should the agency heads. Once again, the federal government proves its ineptitude as we, the taxpayer, face a government composed of looters.

Soap Box Ravings would like to point out that all the money the government spends comes from taxes on it's citizens. The only other way to get money is to print it willy-nilly and that will cause inflation. Wait, that's what we are doing now under the Messiah's Divine Guidance.

There are a lot of changes being made, none of which Soap Box Ravings sees as relating to increased honesty and integrity of government.

Soap Box Ravings wonders: Can you feel the change?

American Superhero Decides It Is Easier To Fight Corruption In Africa

The Associated Press reported today: "Obama Tells Africa to End Corruption"

Full story at: http://news.aol.com/article/obamas-visit-ghana/565798

Soap Box Ravings interpretation of this would be that it is much easier to tell people you don't know to clean up their f&^%&^g sh*t than to tell your political associates, your financial backers and your supporters to clean up their f%*^%^g sh*t.

But the media shows him "looking good" as he strolls around with his jacket off waving to the crowd and I guess that's what really matters.

Are There Cracks In The Armor, Or Are The Weak Showing Signs Of Panic?

May 2009, Warren Buffett warns "Inflation on the horizon"


July 2009, Colin Powell Warns Obama: “And We Can’t Pay for it All”

Soap Box Ravings says these are not the words of your average rabid talk show hosts. Conservative talk show hosts have been saying these things in one form or another since Obama set out to run for President. These are high ranking people who supported Obama and helped him reach the presidency.

Powell claims to be a Republican but his actions speak louder than his words and right now he seems to be excited because Obama is ordering up things he can't pay for. There may be a Conservative ideal in his head and I know he had many years of equal opportunity training while in the US Army, but he allowed color to rule.

As a retired navy E-9, I can't help but think some of my army peers failed Colin Powell as a junior officer during his formative years when he was supposed to learn army ethics and values.

Soap Box Ravings can't wait to see who is the next one to start muttering.

Attention Pennsylvania Hunters, Can you Identify This Photo

The Pennsylvania State Police are interested in identifying the location of this Polaroid photo which is believed be related to the whereabouts of two children who went missing 30 years ago.



Karen and Michael Reinert vanished from Ardmore, Pennsylvania in June 1979. Their mother, Susan Reinert, was found murdered but police have never learned of their fate.

Trooper Brian Krause of the Pennsylvania State Police asks anyone who can identify the location of the mystery photo or anyone who may have information about what happened to Karen and Michael Reinert to call 717-671-7537.