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politics and politicians Title: Hot Air exclusive: Scott Walker speaks out on cop murders and American leadership Hot Air is pleased to provide Governor Scott Walker with an opportunity to speak directly to voters in this guest column. We Need a Uniter-in-Chief, Not a Divider-in-Chief By Gov. Scott Walker Over the last week, we’ve seen a disturbing trend of police officers being murdered on the job. Texas Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth was killed Friday, gunned down while pumping gas for no apparent reason other than the uniform on his back. And just yesterday, in my neighboring state of Illinois, police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz was assassinated by three men, who are still on the run. This isn’t the America I grew up in or that I want my children to grow up in. When the very people responsible for keeping us safe are targeted because they are law enforcement officials, we have a serious problem. In the last six years under President Obama, we’ve seen a rise in anti-police rhetoric. Instead of hope and change, we’ve seen racial tensions worsen and a tendency to use law enforcement as a scapegoat. This kind of attitude has created a culture in which we all too often see demonstrations and chants where people describe police as “pigs” and call for them to be “fried like bacon.” This inflammatory and disgusting rhetoric has real consequences for the safety of officers who put their lives on the line for us and hampers their ability to serve the communities that need their help. In Wisconsin we acted to protect both police officers and citizens through a first-in-the-nation law that requires an independent investigation when a suspect dies in police custody. And I will continue to support efforts to ensure officers receive proper training at the local level to help make sure force is only used in appropriate circumstances. But we must do more to protect those who protect us. Police officers across this country need to know that we have their back. As I’ve done throughout my career, I will continue to have the backs of police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers and treat them with the respect they deserve. After years of division under President Obama, America needs a leader who will seek to unite all Americans. Instead of focusing on what divides us, we need to concentrate on what brings us together. No law enforcement officer should fear to do their job the way he or she was trained to do it, and no law-abiding citizen should fear for their safety from those sworn to protect us. We need to change the tone in America from chants and rallies that fixate on racial division and instead follow the example of the families of the victims of the Charleston shooting, who showed us the best path forward is through unity. As president, that’s what I’m going to do to make us a united America once again. Hot Air will be happy to provide other presidential candidates an open forum for guest essays as well. Poster Comment: I notice more GOP candidates trying to reach the Right blogosphere in the 2016 cycle and up their game on Twitter and Facebook. I saw Fiorina recently did an hour-long podcast with the crew at AceOfSpades. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 2. "I notice more GOP candidates trying to reach the Right blogosphere" And spout the same old bullshit. "And I will continue to support efforts to ensure officers receive proper training at the local level to blah, blah, blah. How about this? How about "Cop killers get an automatic death penalty, with an expedited, go-to-the-head-of-the-line appeals process resulting in an execution within two years of conviction"?
#2. To: misterwhite (#1) How about this? How about "Cop killers get an automatic death penalty, with an expedited, go-to-the-head-of-the-line appeals process resulting in an execution within two years of conviction"? Criminal law is traditionally the province of the states. One of the more disturbing modern trends is to pass federal criminal laws, resulting in over five thousand federal crimes, many of which are unknown to the public who is expected to obey the laws. So encouraging further usurping of state criminal law authority is probably a bad idea generally. However, a president can appoint justices who will sharply limit the amount of time in appeals particularly in cases where there remains no doubt of the convicted murderer's guilt (DNA, fingerprint, video). You don't provide any explanation or justification for valuing the life of a police officer more than any other citizen. If it were your child or spouse who was murdered, why would you have less right to demand swift justice and an execution as any murdered cop's family? You're kind of conflating multiple issues here. I don't think you could make a workable law because so many states have dropped or suspended the death penalty already. To pass a law like yours would force federal death penalty cases and executions to occur in states that don't presently allow the death penalty at all. You should be able to see that is a minefield of lawsuits from the states that no longer use the death penalty or are actively opposed to it.
Replies to Comment # 2. "Criminal law is traditionally the province of the states." So is the drinking age, yet ... "You don't provide any explanation or justification for valuing the life of a police officer more than any other citizen." I could, but that would just change the debate. Let's just say that I'm a believer in the 6th amendment (speedy trial) and realize that we cannot expedite all cases through the system. I'm saying we should prioritize, starting with cop killers at the top of the list.
#7. To: TooConservative (#2) "To pass a law like yours would force federal death penalty cases and executions to occur in states ..." Geez Louise. The federal government passes and enforces Mickey Mouse "gay hate crimes" and "violation of civil rights by excessive force" and "violence against women" legislation and nobody says shit about federal intrusion. Here I propose legislation against an attack on society itself, and it's "Gosh, I don't know if we should do that. We already have 5,000 stupid laws on the books."
#16. To: TooConservative (#2) So encouraging further usurping of state criminal law authority is probably a bad idea generally. Not if you are a police fan boi,and just dream of seeing them marching down streets in formation wearing those tall leather boots,leather belts,and leather coats. Authority fan bois get wood at the thought of a national police.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 2. Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest |
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