Neither Bush or Obama Have Addressed Police Shootings

President George Bush patted himself on the back claiming that the federal government rescued 30,000 people from Katrina-stricken New Orleans, for which CNN's Campbell Brown "Rips Bush" yesterday. Bush admitted he "sent the wrong message" when he posted the 'Mission Accomplished' banner while highlighting his administration's ousting of the Saddam regime. Was it another mistake failing to address three unjustified police shootings two weeks into 2009 on U.S. soil? There have been two innocent deaths.

Yesterday, Bush declared a state of emergency for Barack Obama's inauguration, so D.C. can get funding in addition to the $15 million already earmarked for the bash; headliners include Beyonce, U2, and Shakira. Obama operates a $12 million transition budget; donations of under $5,000 will supplement the transition of power. What about the state of emergency to keep the upcoming protests to the BART shooting peaceful? What about restitution for the families of Oscar Grant, Adolph Grimes, and Robert Tolan - 3 innocent victims of police shootings in 2009?

Former BART Officer, Johannes Mehserle, has been taken into custody on a fugitive warrant in Nevada. Is it time to hold those who supervised Mehserle's activity accountable? Police officers who shot and killed Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo were acquitted; is it time to engage police assassinations in a distinct manner? Does Mehserle's arrest give the case enough credence for a government assassination to be acknowledged by the former and future leaders of this planet's super power?

Instead Bush tries to reinforce the misconception that the United States is still held in the same regard as the country's perception before the Bush administration. "I strongly disagree that our moral standing has been diminished."

Barack Obama talks immigration with the Mexican president. Obama presses for the other half of the $700 billion bailout to fatten the banks up again. We are still waiting on Obama's response to the slaying of American men.

Stay updated on these developing stories on Twitter.

UPDATE

Johannes Mehserle mug shot has been released by NBCBayArea.com, as he has been arrested and charged with homicide.

Comments

[lily31]

Note to headline writers : It's "neither..­....nor...­" not "neither..­.........o­r.........­.."

[rasit]

Usually Presidents stay away from this type of cases to make sure that their involvement or comments do not complicate legal proceedings at the State level. But the Feds can initiate action if the state decision is considered wrong or unjust, under the violation of one's violation of Civil Rights provisions....

[lafrance]

The recent shootings of these young men are so tragic and breaks my heart.
But, I do think with everything dumped on PE Obama right now and everyone in America clamoring for him to address their individual issues, not to mention the world shouting for attention, Obama is simply too overwhelmed by the noise to say something about everything.
I don't look for Bush to say anything even though no one is shouting and clamoring for attention from him.

[erykah]

If it were 3 white men, the country would be outraged.

[SillyGit]

People that have heard about it in detail *are* outraged. The way it has been handled in the MSM, it has downplayed the outrageous police behavior making it seem that the police were just doing their job. I have no doubt that the MSM would not have tried to sweep it under the carpet if the victims had been white and thus the outrage would be more pronounced.

[hortonhearsawho2]

How do we pick and choose the cases for the President to get involved in ?

[ohboynotagain]

Neal, I do not think it is the Presidents position to chime in on every police related shooting that goes on in this country. I agree with you that something needs to be done, but it is not Bush's job and with 2.6M people out of work, I think Barack Obama has his hands full right now. I say tthis is up to the community, the mayor, city council or whatever elected officials are there to bring things to light. The out going prez and the incoming Prez didn't chime in but they got the guy right?

[PATina]

And that's why it's important for the rest of us to continue to keep these atrocities in the light. It's sad to think that 3 black men have been shot by police officers just this year (14 days in). And even worse that the majority of attention they've received has been on internet news sites and blogs.

Well... I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Junior Bush to acknowledge this. And I really don't see President Obama addressing this either (might make him look like he's the President of Black People)... hopefully I'm wrong and he'll address this in his Inauguration Speech.