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Allen West On Donald Sterling

Mike

Well-known member
“Upon further review, the ruling on the field (court)…” These are the words stated by referees after they’ve gone to the reply booth (monitor) in order to clarify a controversial call. Often, the reason for the review is because of a coach’s challenge. Therefore, in the same light, let us review the case of LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.

There can be no debate that the words of Mr. Sterling were reprehensible and disgusting. But how and why did these words come to light now, when his points of view were apparently well-known for many years?

It seems his “girlfriend,” Ms. Stiviano, decided to tape a private conversation between the two. Apparently, Ms. Stiviano had recently been sued by the estranged wife of Mr. Sterling, so there is some potential nefarious motive involved. Furthermore, the taping of a conversation without consent of the other party is illegal under California statute. There is some question as to whether he knew he was being recorded. Let’s assume for the moment he didn’t.

The national outrage against Mr. Sterling has come from an act that could be illegal and inadmissible in a court of law. Nevertheless, the court of public opinion has tried and convicted Mr. Sterling of being a jerk.

But have we come to a point in America where being a jerk is grounds for confiscation of a private property? It was Englishman John Locke who first proposed that individual rights as granted under natural law were life, liberty, and property. It was Thomas Jefferson who in the American Declaration of Independence used that paradigm to propose our unalienable rights from our Creator being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Sterling’s comments were repulsive, but they were stated in the privacy of his own home — at least he thought it was private.

So where do we go from here?

Have we come to the point that private conversations can be taped and released in the public domain in order to ruin the livelihood –pursuit of happiness — of private citizens? Ms. Stiviano, or whomever, knew exactly what they wanted the end result to be as they released this tape to TMZ.

Is this the “new normal?” Is this a violation of our privacy rights? Ok, so what types of conversations occur in the privacy of the NBA locker rooms, or the homes of the players? Yes, this is indeed a slippery slope as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban asserted.

Fox News host and commentator Greg Gutfeld applauded this moment because of the consensus outrage being displayed. But I believe this outrage misplaced, or more accurately, mis-prioritized. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Sterling’s behavior was “dangerous to the NBA.”

Where is the cultural, public outrage over a behind closed door comment such as referring to the State of Israel as an “apartheid state?” Probably most of America doesn’t know who said it or even what “aparteid” means.

Or how about the outrage that should have come when our own president leaned over to then-Russian President Medvedev sayng, “Tell Putin that after my reelection I will have more flexibility” and of course Medvedev said, “I will tell Vladimir.” And now we know what that “flexibility” has allowed.

Aren’t those “private” chats reflective of behavior that is dangerous for the United States?

Or how about the lies and deceit of President Obama on healthcare and of course Benghazi, which we now know a video had nothing to do with.

Has our culture devolved to the point that the private statements of an NBA owner draws more outrage than the lies and deceit of the President of the United States?

Donald Sterling’s behavior is despicable, but so is that of President Barack Hussein Obama — and whose abhorrent behavior has more impact on our country?

The difference is that the media lead us along like sheep to the slaughter, turning us into reactionary, shallow thinking, low information voters along the way. We know more about Sterling than Benghazi — or the IRS scandal.

Sterling is a jerk, an unlikeable fella, but is he guilty of a crime that demands his property be confiscated? Uh, no.

We’re told however that Obama is a likable fella –regardless of the incessant lies, deceit and abject failures. What is happening to American culture and values?

I don’t like jerks, but I really don’t like jerks who are liars, do you?

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2014/04/folks-youre-missing-point-donald-sterling/#ZESRCeSsWEC7r15b.99
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
I fail to see how he could be banned for life by the NBA. Fined the 2.5 mill....possibly.

If the NBA really wants him gone, let the NBA buy the Clippers from him at fair market value plus some blue sky, and deduct the 2.5 mill from the check...then the NBA could auction the team off to folks they'd rather have own it. Problem solved.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Sterling says the Clippers are not for sale.

I expect him to fight the sale and win. Course it depends on the NBA agreement he signed with them, but illegal activities cannot be contractual.

As far as I know. It is not illegal to be racist nor stupid, but the left is trying hard to control that thought.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
It seems, from all the interviews from others, that his views and opinions were well known so what we hear on the tape IS NOT NEWS to those in his world.

Also, the gal who taped him set him up and I don't care what you are ranting about, good or bad, that's shittie no matter how you measure it. She, above all, knew his thoughts and opinions so she had a motive for herself in this. Maybe she was on her way out with him and this was her way to get 15 minutes of fame....

Also, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think his opinion is wrong and should not exist. But, those opinions still do exist.

Now, if he was breaking a law, due to his opinions toward people of color, that's a whole ' nuther issue. He had been sued many times for not allowing people of color to rent in his housing complex areas. That's breaking laws and illegal.

There are so many things WRONG with this that it's hard to pick a spot and start.

But I don't see how they can force him sell the team IF he's the sole owner. If he has partners, they can force him, depends on percentages of ownership.
 

Mike

Well-known member
kolanuraven said:
It seems, from all the interviews from others, that his views and opinions were well known so what we hear on the tape IS NOT NEWS to those in his world.

Also, the gal who taped him set him up and I don't care what you are ranting about, good or bad, that's shittie no matter how you measure it. She, above all, knew his thoughts and opinions so she had a motive for herself in this. Maybe she was on her way out with him and this was her way to get 15 minutes of fame....

Also, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think his opinion is wrong and should not exist. But, those opinions still do exist.

There are so many things WRONG with this that it's hard to pick a spot and start.

But I don't see how they can force him sell the team IF he's the sole owner. If he has partners, they can force him, depends on percentages of ownership.

Quite a day Kola. You and I agree on TWO points.

There is a huge push in this country by the "Left" to force a culture to accept another's cultures and values. People are different. Deal with it.

The "News" in this story should be the NAACP accepting "Hush Money" from the wealthy and selling out their priciples to further their agenda. That's despicable.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
Mike said:
kolanuraven said:
It seems, from all the interviews from others, that his views and opinions were well known so what we hear on the tape IS NOT NEWS to those in his world.

Also, the gal who taped him set him up and I don't care what you are ranting about, good or bad, that's shittie no matter how you measure it. She, above all, knew his thoughts and opinions so she had a motive for herself in this. Maybe she was on her way out with him and this was her way to get 15 minutes of fame....

Also, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think his opinion is wrong and should not exist. But, those opinions still do exist.

There are so many things WRONG with this that it's hard to pick a spot and start.

But I don't see how they can force him sell the team IF he's the sole owner. If he has partners, they can force him, depends on percentages of ownership.

Quite a day Kola. You and I agree on TWO points.

There is a huge push in this country by the "Left" to force a culture to accept another's cultures and values. People are different. Deal with it.

The "News" in this story should be the NAACP accepting "Hush Money" from the wealthy and selling out their priciples to further their agenda. That's despicable.



I don't think we'll EVER agree 100% on anything. :wink:
 

Mike

Well-known member
kolanuraven said:
Mike said:
kolanuraven said:
It seems, from all the interviews from others, that his views and opinions were well known so what we hear on the tape IS NOT NEWS to those in his world.

Also, the gal who taped him set him up and I don't care what you are ranting about, good or bad, that's shittie no matter how you measure it. She, above all, knew his thoughts and opinions so she had a motive for herself in this. Maybe she was on her way out with him and this was her way to get 15 minutes of fame....

Also, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think his opinion is wrong and should not exist. But, those opinions still do exist.

There are so many things WRONG with this that it's hard to pick a spot and start.

But I don't see how they can force him sell the team IF he's the sole owner. If he has partners, they can force him, depends on percentages of ownership.

Quite a day Kola. You and I agree on TWO points.

There is a huge push in this country by the "Left" to force a culture to accept another's cultures and values. People are different. Deal with it.

The "News" in this story should be the NAACP accepting "Hush Money" from the wealthy and selling out their priciples to further their agenda. That's despicable.



I don't think we'll EVER agree 100% on anything. :wink:
Would you agree that E=MC2 ?
 

mrj

Well-known member
Another wonderful, to the point, HONEST column by Allen West!

I've admired him for a long time. He is an asset to this country, unlike too many columnists whose primary motivation seems to be putting more distance and unpleasantness between people.

However, re. Mike and Kola agreeing on some things, wouldn't there be more problems of all kinds generated if everyone agreed on all issues??? Certainly would be more boring, too!

mrj
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
mrj said:
Another wonderful, to the point, HONEST column by Allen West!

I've admired him for a long time. He is an asset to this country, unlike too many columnists whose primary motivation seems to be putting more distance and unpleasantness between people.

However, re. Mike and Kola agreeing on some things, wouldn't there be more problems of all kinds generated if everyone agreed on all issues??? Certainly would be more boring, too!

mrj


I don't admire Allen West. I think he is zealot and grandstander!

As for Mike....I'm not sure he is as big an azzehole as he likes to make out here!!

Is he an azzehole, sure he can be.....but is he a purebred one, I doubt it!
 

Tam

Well-known member
Kimberly Gilfoilde on Fox was a Prosecutor in California and she was on Bill O'Rielly last night saying the girlfriend under California law could be in a lot of trouble as if she tape Sterling without him knowing and released the tape she could be looking at having to pay all Sterlings loses if he takes her to court. And if Sterlings wife is already got her in court what is the likelyhood she will not go after her for this embarrassment, as if his net worth takes a hit so does hers.

What he said was bad stupid thing to say but if the thought police can use a private conversation to destory you then there is not a person on the planet safe as I'm sure we have all said something in private that if it was made public somebody somewhere would take offense and use it to make their point that the world is a racist place.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Tam said:
Kimberly Gilfoilde on Fox was a Prosecutor in California and she was on Bill O'Rielly last night saying the girlfriend under California law could be in a lot of trouble as if she tape Sterling without him knowing and released the tape she could be looking at having to pay all Sterlings loses if he takes her to court. And if Sterlings wife is already got her in court what is the likelyhood she will not go after her for this embarrassment, as if his net worth takes a hit so does hers.

What he said was bad stupid thing to say but if the thought police can use a private conversation to destory you then there is not a person on the planet safe as I'm sure we have all said something in private that if it was made public somebody somewhere would take offense and use it to make their point that the world is a racist place.

I was curious so looked it up... Federal law is also one party consent...

One-Party Consent Statutes

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia permit individuals to record conversations to which they are a party without informing the other parties that they are doing so. These laws are referred to as “one-party consent” statutes, and as long as you are a party to the conversation, it is legal for you to record it. (Nevada also has a one-party consent statute, but the state Supreme Court has interpreted it as an all-party rule.)

All-Parties Consent Statutes

Twelve states require, under most circumstances, the consent of all parties to a conversation. Those jurisdictions are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Be aware that you will sometimes hear these referred to inaccurately as “two-party consent” laws. If there are more than two people involved in the conversation, all must consent to the taping.

http://www.detectiveservices.com/2012/02/27/state-by-state-recording-laws/
 
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