BLOGO LIKE RYAN

This entry in Wikipedia on, former Illinois Governor, George Ryan regarding his commuting of all death row inmates;

Ryan won praise from death penalty opponents, and was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. Many conservatives, though, were opposed to the decision, and some questioned the motives behind the commutations, which came as a federal corruption investigation closed in on the governor and his closest political allies. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan called Ryan "pathetic", and suggested that the governor was attempting to save his public image in hopes of avoiding prison himself.

Call me a cynic but now Rod Blagojevich has to tweak his image after a Federal Judge identified him as "public offical A".
In today's Tribune;

After meeting with Northern Illinois University leaders, Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked state lawmakers Wednesday to spend $40 million to raze the lecture hall where five students were fatally shot on Valentine's Day and replace it with a new classroom and memorial building.

The governor's request immediately brought a mixture of kudos and skepticism from lawmakers, some of whom questioned whether taxpayers should bear the financial burden of physically erasing the scene of the tragedy.

This is something that should be left to the alumni of NIU to build an appropriate memorial. I feel for the families of the dead and injured, I feel for those who had to witness the cowardly act that was perpetrated that day. At the risk of sounding callous I don't feel this is an appropriate use of state funds and I believe this is just a political stunt by a shameless politician to improve his public image.

FLSA

An update on the FOP website:

FLSA PROGRESS 02/26/08

On February 21, 2008, our FOP in-house lawyers secured an injunction against the City of Chicago in our ongoing lawsuit to force the City to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Acts (“FLSA”). This injunction has to do with your use of FLSA compensatory time. Here are the highlights: First, the City has been ordered to revise its time due slips and have new slips in use by March 31, 2008. The injunction will take effect the following day. When an officer requests to use FLSA comp time, the City must grant any request made so long as the request is made no less than 48 hours prior to the shift for which the time off is requested. If the Department decides that a replacement sworn member is needed, the Department must seek a replacement worker. Officers requesting FLSA time off may propose names of replacement workers and the Department must consider those individuals.

The Department can deny the use of FLSA compensatory time if, and only if, it reasonably and in good faith anticipates that granting the request would impose an unreasonable burden on the Department’s ability to provide effective police service or would endanger a sworn officer’s safety. The Department has been ordered by the Court to provide a written explanation of any denial – no more denials based on “manpower;” no more returned slips. All denials must now be documented. Finally, the need for the Department to pay premium pay (time and one-half) to attract a replacement worker cannot provide a basis to deny compensatory time off.
Our lawyers have been given the right to conduct periodic audits for one year beginning April 1, 2008, in order to ensure full compliance with the injunction. The City has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the trial court’s ruling. We will keep you apprised of all future developments.

So does anyone see anything really change here? The language seems to still give the city the right to deny time due
"The Department can deny the use of FLSA compensatory time if, and only if, it reasonably and in good faith anticipates that granting the request would impose an unreasonable burden on the Department’s ability to provide effective police service or would endanger a sworn officer’s safety." In other words manpower!
Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see the department changing very much in this regard.

OBAMA AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT

In his answers to the 1998 Illinois State Legislative National Political Awareness Test, Obama said he favored a ban on “the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.”

By definition, this would include all pistols ever made, from .22 target pistols used in the Olympics to rarely-fired pistols kept in nightstands and sock drawers for the defense of families, and every pistol in between. Obama’s strident stand would also ban all semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, whatever their previously legal purpose.

In 1999, Obama proposed to make it a felony for the gun owner if a firearm stolen from his residence and used in a crime was not “securely stored” — effectively negating the homeowner’s right to self-defense.....More at Pajamas Media

MIAMI PD

Miami PD is testing the use of these Micro Air Vehicles produced by Honeywell. They have a ceiling of over 10,000 feet and weigh only 18 pounds and will be nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.

Police in Miami, Florida want to find out whether a small unmanned air vehicle able to hover and stare can help law enforcement in urban areas.

To that end, Miami-Dade Police Department plans a four- to six-month evaluation of Honeywell's ducted-fan Micro Air Vehicle (MAV).

The gasoline-powered gMAV has just received an experimental airworthiness certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration, clearing the way for the ground-breaking experiment. Approval was granted following a demonstration flight for the FAA at a remote site in Laguna, New Mexico....(more)

BURBANK OFFICERS SHOT, OFFENDER DEAD

I received an email from a sergeant, assigned to a citywide unit, that described the response to "officer shot" at 83rd and Cicero.

I heard the call on the citywide that an officer was shot at 83rd and Cicero. My heart began racing as I sped to the scene. I kept anticipating the "slow down no one shot". That never came and it was confirmed that a Burbank Police Officer was shot. They also confirmed that the officer was in good condition and that an offender had fled northbound. As I neared the scene I then heard that they had all in custody. Upon arrival a Burbank supervisor related to me that the offender was DOA and that there was no one else being sought. I looked around and was proud of all the responding officers from Burbank, Oak Lawn, Bedford Park, Hometown, Summit, Bridgeview, Cook County, State Police, 8th District and many other outside units that were in uniform and plain clothes. The scene was outside of a motel at 8450 S. Cicero and that not one but two Burbank officers were shot. Thank God they survived and this POS will no longer be a menace to society.

This from the Southtown Star:

Two Burbank police officers were wounded Monday night and another man was killed in a shootout in the 8400 block of Cicero Avenue, authorities said.

Details on the shooting about 9:30 p.m. near the Budget Inn Motel were not immediately available, but fire officials said both officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Both officers suffered gunshot wounds to the hand, with one officer struck in the calf and another hit twice in a bulletproof vest, Burbank Fire Chief Tim Kaufmann said.

Burbank police were unavailable for comment. Illinois State Police and Bridgeview, Oak Lawn and Chicago police responded to the scene.

Sounds like a great job done by the involved officers and an impressive response by all. Thanks sarge for the first hand account.

SOUND FAMILIAR

Received an email from a reader linking me to this article in the Aspen Times Weekly.

In election 2008, don’t forget Angry White Man

There is a great amount of interest in this year’s presidential elections, as everybody seems to recognize that our next president has to be a lot better than George Bush. The Democrats are riding high with two groundbreaking candidates — a woman and an African-American — while the conservative Republicans are in a quandary about their party’s nod to a quasi-liberal maverick, John McCain.

Each candidate is carefully pandering to a smorgasbord of special-interest groups, ranging from gay, lesbian and transgender people to children of illegal immigrants to working mothers to evangelical Christians.

There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.

His common traits are that he isn’t looking for anything from anyone — just the promise to be able to make his own way on a level playing field. In many cases, he is an independent businessman and employs several people. He pays more than his share of taxes and works hard.

The victimhood syndrome buzzwords — “disenfranchised,” “marginalized” and “voiceless” — don’t resonate with him. “Press ‘one’ for English” is a curse-word to him. He’s used to picking up the tab, whether it’s the company Christmas party, three sets of braces, three college educations or a beautiful wedding.

He believes the Constitution is to be interpreted literally, not as a “living document” open to the whims and vagaries of a panel of judges who have never worked an honest day in their lives.

The Angry White Man owns firearms, and he’s willing to pick up a gun to defend his home and his country. He is willing to lay down his life to defend the freedom and safety of others, and the thought of killing someone who needs killing really doesn’t bother him.

The Angry White Man is not a metrosexual, a homosexual or a victim. Nobody like him drowned in Hurricane Katrina — he got his people together and got the hell out, then went back in to rescue those too helpless and stupid to help themselves, often as a police officer, a National Guard soldier or a volunteer firefighter.

His last name and religion don’t matter. His background might be Italian, English, Polish, German, Slavic, Irish, or Russian, and he might have Cherokee, Mexican, or Puerto Rican mixed in, but he considers himself a white American.

He’s a man’s man, the kind of guy who likes to play poker, watch football, hunt white-tailed deer, call turkeys, play golf, spend a few bucks at a strip club once in a blue moon, change his own oil and build things. He coaches baseball, soccer and football teams and doesn’t ask for a penny. He’s the kind of guy who can put an addition on his house with a couple of friends, drill an oil well, weld a new bumper for his truck, design a factory and publish books. He can fill a train with 100,000 tons of coal and get it to the power plant on time so that you keep the lights on and never know what it took to flip that light switch.

Women either love him or hate him, but they know he’s a man, not a dishrag. If they’re looking for someone to walk all over, they’ve got the wrong guy. He stands up straight, opens doors for women and says “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am.”

He might be a Republican and he might be a Democrat; he might be a Libertarian or a Green. He knows that his wife is more emotional than rational, and he guides the family in a rational manner.

He’s not a racist, but he is annoyed and disappointed when people of certain backgrounds exhibit behavior that typifies the worst stereotypes of their race. He’s willing to give everybody a fair chance if they work hard, play by the rules and learn English.

Most important, the Angry White Man is pissed off. When his job site becomes flooded with illegal workers who don’t pay taxes and his wages drop like a stone, he gets righteously angry. When his job gets shipped overseas, and he has to speak to some incomprehensible idiot in India for tech support, he simmers. When Al Sharpton comes on TV, leading some rally for reparations for slavery or some such nonsense, he bites his tongue and he remembers. When a child gets charged with carrying a concealed weapon for mistakenly bringing a penknife to school, he takes note of who the local idiots are in education and law enforcement.

He also votes, and the Angry White Man loathes Hillary Clinton. Her voice reminds him of a shovel scraping a rock. He recoils at the mere sight of her on television. Her very image disgusts him, and he cannot fathom why anyone would want her as their leader. It’s not that she is a woman. It’s that she is who she is. It’s the liberal victim groups she panders to, the “poor me” attitude that she represents, her inability to give a straight answer to an honest question, his tax dollars that she wants to give to people who refuse to do anything for themselves.

There are many millions of Angry White Men. Four million Angry White Men are members of the National Rifle Association, and all of them will vote against Hillary Clinton, just as the great majority of them voted for George Bush.

He hopes that she will be the Democratic nominee for president in 2008, and he will make sure that she gets beaten like a drum.

Amen brother!

HOME INVASION

Earlier in the week SCC had a post looking for info into a reported home invasion in Mt. Greenwood. I read the comments and they ranged from the reserved to the hysterical. All I knew about the incident was what the rumour mill was churning. Now this story from the Southtown Star:

A 20-year-old woman who was home alone at her police officer boyfriend's house in the 11200 block of South Central Park Avenue in the early hours of Sunday morning told police two men in "Scream" masks forced their way in and taped her to a chair.

She told investigators the burglars stole $40 and two tickets to a Bulls game and they demanded information about her boyfriend's brother, also a Chicago cop, Morgan Park district police said Monday.

According to her account, she managed to use her cell phone to send a text message to a neighbor, who released her from the chair once the burglars left.

The part of this story that the media omitted was that the offenders where black and the victim had earlier called 911 to report suspicious persons at 11100 block of Central Park in the alley. Armed with little to no information the usual rants, about 22, Area 2 the decline of the neighborhood and of course FOP, where abundant:

Holy crap....can someone verify? I knew this area was going downhill, but I didn't think it was THIS bad already... anyone want a ranch? Priced to sell....

2/11/2008 02:17:00 AM

Welcome to BAGHDAD!!! Wheres FOP???? Where is the Outrage??? You know this is how Detroit started its decline.

2/11/2008 06:39:00 AM

19B huh? Great job you dog asses! Did driving around the neighborhood for 15 minutes to look for these guys before interrupt your dvd or something. Take just a lil F*cking pride in what you do, at least have a work ethic.

2/11/2008 09:56:00 AM

These are just a sampling of the responses that this story generated.
Then we see this in the paper today.

Detectives probing the alleged home invasion Sunday at a Chicago cop's Mount Greenwood house have found inconsistencies in the victim's story that have prevented their investigation from moving forward, police sources said Thursday.

Calumet Area detectives and Chicago police news affairs officers have refused to release any information about the investigation in the four days since.

On Thursday, police sources told the SouthtownStar that investigators are examining whether the incident actually may have been some kind of domestic dispute.

I had talked to a few people who know the coppers and they are convinced that the girlfriend has issues and a home invasion isn't one of them.

Lets face it, the 22nd district 1st watch has a horrible reputation, Area 2 has some great people and some not so great people but the neighborhood on a whole is fine and FOP has nothing to do with this. I hope that her bullshit doesn't diminish the vigilance that off-duty coppers and their families need to maintain regardless of which district they live in.

48 HOUR RULE

This is from the FOP Lodge 7 site:

WHO'S KIDDING WHO? 02/14/08

The Chicago Police Department has decided that the ability to defend itself from lawsuits is more important than the safety of our communities. The Department issued a revision to General Order 02-03 in which it amended the order to state, “Every person arrested without a warrant…will appear in court, without unnecessary delay. Under no circumstances, will such a person appear in court any later than 48 hour from the time of arrest.” The order goes on to state that the revision is a “continuing commitment to comply fully with the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court.”

That statement is patently false. The City has either misinterpreted the law, or even worse, is simply attempting to deceive its members with this order. The Supreme Court never said that an arrestee must appear before a judge within 48 hours of arrest. The law requires that an arrestee appear before a judge within a reasonable time. The Supreme Court stated years ago, and the law remains unchanged, that if an arrestee does not receive a probable cause hearing within 48 hours, then the burden of proof shifts to the government to demonstrate the existence of a bona fide emergency or other extraordinary circumstance. There are many, many examples of cases that have gone to court and survived various motions despite the fact that the detention exceeded 48 hours. The courts understand that a detention in excess of 48 hours may be permissible based on the circumstances surrounding the detention. The Chicago Police Department does not get it.

The genesis of the original G.O. came after an Illinois Appellate Court case, People v. Willis, 2002. In that case, the Illinois Appellate Court held that the exclusionary rule applied to a statement garnered after 48 hours. This case has been reversed. The Illinois Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the Court needs to consider the totality of circumstances surrounding the prolonged detention. A detention beyond 48 hours does not automatically invalidate an arrest, as the City has interpreted.

It is a sad day when a community’s interests are sacrificed by its own police department. The Chicago Police Department can implement a stricter standard to the arrest procedures if it so chooses. However, when it points the finger at the Supreme Court and blames the Court for creating the policy when in fact it was the Department’s own decision to implement the policy; the Lodge believes that the truth must be exposed. The Lodge will not allow the Chicago Police Department to hide behind the court in this case. The decision to implement the order is squarely on the Department and the motivation behind the decision $tinks.

BIG SHAKEUP

Jody came out firing today and big changes are the result.

Jimmy Jackson 11th District Commander to First Deputy Superintendent

Beatrice Cuello 10th District Commander to Deputy Superintendent, Bureau of Patrol

Mike Shields Area 2 Deputy to Deputy Superintendent Bureau of Strategic Deployment

Steve Peterson Area 4 detectives to Deputy Superintendent, Bureau of Investigative Services

The Tribune is reporting that Charlie Williams, Hirum Grau and John Risley were all offered a choice of being demoted or leave, and they chose to leave. Jody also announced the creation of a new Bureau of Profesional Standards to be headed by Peter Brust, former special agent in-charge of the FBI field office in Los Angeles.

Is this just the start of things to come? What happens to Debra Kirby and Matt Tobias? The way I read it they will come under new Deputy Pete Brust.

According to the department website;

The Bureau of Professional Standards is a new bureau which encompasses several functions such as the Internal Affairs Division and Training.

I can think of a few district commanders that need to be given the same offer as Williams, Grau and Risley. I can also think of a few district commanders who stars will rise as a result of these changes.

NIU TRAGEDY

The Tribuneheadline reads as
"NIU shooting leaves 6 dead, 16 wounded"
Should read "5 unarmed students murdered and 16 wounded, murderer then commits suicide". That is truly what happened.
Sadly politicians will make political hay out of these senseless murders.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

12 HOUR SHIFTS

From the Sun-Times

Weis decided to explore the possibility of a Los Angeles-style, 12-hour shift after a give-and-take last week with officers in the 21st District, Bond said. Weis has been appearing at roll calls -- and dismissing police supervisors from that discussion -- to get his finger on the pulse of officers on the street.

In the past I wrote a post on LAPD work schedule. This is what the LAPD 12 hour schedule entails.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday day off group
Thursday, Friday, Saturday day off group
each group gets every other Sunday off.

So this week I work Thursday , Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Next week I work Thursday , Friday, Saturday and off Sunday

In LA they call it flexible schedule........officers can work 8 hour days, 10 hour days or 12 hour days.

This is a hot issue in LA where the LA TIMES Editorial had an opinion on it........

Unlike those in other large police departments across the country, most patrol officers in Los Angeles work just three 12-hour days a week. The sweetness of this schedule cannot be underestimated, and it is wildly popular with the rank and file. Officers have more time to recharge and recover from their physically and emotionally taxing work. They have more time for their families. They have more time for second jobs. They rack up more overtime pay, and the handful who reside out of state have more time to jet between work and their homes in Idaho and Las Vegas.

Because of the short workweek, the city has paid millions in overtime that it otherwise wouldn't have. It also has fewer cops patrolling the streets than if they worked a four-day week, as is far more standard for large urban police departments. Last fall, a city study found that response times are longer, and certain neighborhoods have so small a patrol presence that they could be designated police-free zones. Now, in an excruciatingly tight budget year, the city is projecting a $16-million deficit for the department, a chunk of which is overtime the city must pay officers when they're on call to appear in court on their days off.

The LA Times points to Honolulu PD that had a 12 hour day and switched back to 8 hour days. Star- Bulletin of Honolulu.

Mark Donahue states that he is negotiating with the city for a 6 on 3 off schedule. That's a 9 week cycle instead of a 7 week cycle like we currently have. 2 of the nine weeks you will work 48 hours, 2 of the weeks you will work 40 hours and 5 of the weeks you will work 32 hours. So in a 9 week cycle you will work 24 hours less then you currently do. That is approximately 121 hours short of the cities requires 2080 hours of work a year. In essences 15 less days a year worked. What is the city going to demand for this concession? My question is why are we required to work 2080 hours a year.? This is the usual hang up from any kind of change or the elimination of the 6th work day.

FYI

A reader was wondering how many sergeants we currently have and what our budgeted strength is.
Here are a few tidbits to chew on:

We presently have 1233 sergeants.

I can not confirm but I believe our budgeted strength is 1300.

This year 5 sergeants will turn 63 and will be forced to retire.

Within 3 years that number will grow by an additional 38.

115 sergeants have presently maxed out and within 5 years that will grow by an additional 130.

REVAMPED 48 HOUR RULE

I haven't seen the order yet but, the Tribune reports that as a result of a class class action law suit, arrestees will have to appear before a judge within 48 hours of arrest.

Detectives were informed Thursday that suspects have to appear before a judge within 48 hours of arrest or be released. The previous practice required only that charges be approved by prosecutors within that time frame.

And the previous practice before this was that they be charged within 72 hours.

Detectives said that the change will put them under much greater pressure to assemble cases hastily.

"They're tying our hands behind our backs," said one veteran detective, who asked not to be named. "It's just one more thing to keep us from solving crimes."

BLUNT SMOKIN COMMANDER ASKS FOR DEMOTION

A Cicero police commander under investigation for possible drug use asked to resign from his post and be demoted to patrolman the day before he underwent a town-ordered drug screening.

Wesley Scott did not give a reason for the unusual request in his letter to the police superintendent, town spokesman Dan Proft said. But under the town's new drug use policy, a police commander could be fired for a first-time minor drug offense while an officer might get a five-day unpaid suspension....... (more)

Vindication for the officers who did their job. All of you who would rather shit on these guys because of their unit are disingenuous at best and hypocrites at the worst.
Side note: I heard that an instructor told a class of recruits that it was bullshit that the Commander was arrested for misdemeanor weed. Sounds to me like someone who no longer wishes to keep his academy spot. It really doesn't play well to teach recruits to throw away weed. Good luck back on the watch!

Lt’s Promotion Exam: UPDATE 02 February 2008

Several of our members who participated in the 2006/2007 Lt’s Promotional Examination have inquired into the current status of the ongoing challenge in addressing the issues surrounding this unfair and bias testing process.

The C.P.S.A., through our attorneys continues to challenge this examination and have recently (Jan 08) forwarded additional information to Ms Noelle Brennan, the Federal Court Appointed Monitor. As of this date we are still awaiting a response from Ms Brennan. In addition, our attorneys are reviewing if there are sufficient grounds to address our case in Federal Court.

Some of the concerns and allegations that have been brought to the attention of the C.P.S.A. include the following;

At least 51 participants still have not been notified or identified that they either did not have or only had a partial score prior to administering the “re-do” test.

How much of the final test score and placement was based on the “re-do” portion of the examination.

“Subject Matter Experts” held small private study groups prior to the administration of the “re-do” portion of the oral examination.

Several test participants that participated in the “re-do” are assigned to positions that gave them an unfair advantage to exempt command staff and subject matter experts.

During various stages of the testing process some participants were allowed to take the examination off-site and unauthorized ranking members of the C.P.D. were present during this process.

Merit promotion process is by “invitation only” and not all participants have the opportunity to be considered.

At least one participant was on the recent promotion list that had an incomplete test score.

Participants with “connections” had inside information and/or were promoted.

Technical and administrative problems that were experienced during the “re-do” test still have not been addressed.

These are only some of the issues surrounding this blatantly unfair testing and promotional process that our continuing challenge is based on.

John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association

ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!

$40 vehicle stickers urged for all cars of Cook County residents

All Cook County residents would have to buy a $40 vehicle sticker for each car they own under a proposal two County Board commissioners are floating to help plug a budget deficit now pegged at $238 million.

Three-fifths of the revenue would be dedicated to the county health fund, where the deficit is $113 million, Moreno said..... (more)

PLEASE NOTE: To help meet the 2008 budgetary shortfall, the Chicago City Council approved increases for certain vehicle sticker prices. These new vehicle sticker prices take effect on January 1, 2008 and are:
Larger Passenger (4,500 pounds or more)…$120
Truck A (16,000 pounds or less)…$180
Truck B (over 16,000)...$420.00 (not sold online)
Truck C - is eliminated

Effective January 1, 2008, Truck A vehicle stickers cover all trucks and pickup trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 16,000 pounds or less and Truck B vehicle stickers cover all vehicles over 16,000 pounds.

With a new pricing structure from the City of Chicago and recommendation for a new "wheel Tax" for the Cook County the cost to own becomes excessive.
Assume you own a pick up truck, you will be writing checks to the state, county and city for:
Plate registration ..............$78.00
New proposed county sticker......$50.00
New city sticker cost...........$180.00
For the privilege to own........._________
$320.00

Now you want to drive? Fuel taxes.
In Illinois the total federal and state tax on gasoline is 48.4 cents per gallon, Cook County adds an additional 6 cents per gallon and Chicago adds 5 cents per gallon. Drive a pick up in Chicago and it could cost you $320.00 just to own the vehicle each year, fuel it in Chicago and you will be taxed 59 cents a gallon. If your truck gets approximately 16-18 mpg and you drive a minimum 12,000 miles in a year you are looking at an additional $400 per year just in fuel taxes. Enough already!

MAKES ME SICK

Berkeley council tells Marines to leave

Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go.
That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3 Tuesday night to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.".... (more)

Read the whole story and have your stomach turn like mine did. The arrogance of these liberal pantywaist from Berkley is more then I can stand. I think we need a tirand from Lt. Col. Nathan Jessup.....

"You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know - that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall. We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!"