Crazy For Liberty
Crazy for Liberty

John Monds Libertarian for Governor

March 24th, 2009

ATLANTA – John Monds will be announcing his intention to seek the Libertarian Party of Georgia’s nomination for Governor with a press conference at the Capitol in Atlanta with family, close friends and supporters by his side Wednesday, March 25th at 4:00pm.

 

During his campaign for Public Service Commission (District 1) in 2008, Monds became the first Libertarian to break one million votes in the United States.

 

Monds and the Libertarian Party believe Georgians are ready for something new and different. “It’s difficult to tell the difference between Republicans and Democrats; both want to raise your taxes, waste your money and increase the size and scope of state government,” said Monds.

 

“We must be competitive in the 21st Century. We must have meaningful tax reforms that allow businesses and individuals to thrive, a transportation system that eases congestion without raising taxes, an education system that gives more choices and returns control to the local level and we need to stop wasting the taxpayer’s money with mandated long term incarceration of individuals for non-violent victimless infractions of the law”

 

John Monds, 44, is a graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in Banking and Finance, President of the Grady County NAACP and currently serves on the Grady County Planning Commission.

 

He resides in Cairo with his wife, Dr. Kathaleena Edward Monds, and four children, Akintunde, Cazembe, Halima and Malik.

 

You can read more about John Monds at www.VoteMonds.com.

 

The Libertarian Party is Georgia’s third largest political party and the only party in Georgia promoting fewer taxes, less government and personal liberty for all Georgians. To learn more, please visit www.LPGeorgia.com.

Posted by Doug Craig at 3/25/2009 8:56 AM | View Comments (129) | Add Comment

Georgia Online

The official online publication of the Libertarian Party of Georgia

www.LPGeorgia.com              ****               March 9, 2009

 

~~~ Contents ~~~
1.  Website of the Week:  The Road To Serfdom (http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/320553.html)

2.  Register Now For The State Convention

3.  Press Release Of The Week: Libertarians Warn Of Bill To Invade Your Medical Privacy

4.  A Message From The By-Laws Committee

5.  Libertarian Party of Georgia Says Reproduction Is Too Personal To Let The State Determine How Many Kids You Have

6.  Opportunities To Run The Libertarian Party of Georgia!

7.  Libertarian Meetings Near You

8.  Newest Members In the Libertarian Party Of Georgia

 

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1.      Website of the Week:   The Road To Serfdom (http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/320553.html)

            The Libertarian Party is the Party of Principle.  We have an underlying philosophy that individual liberty, limited government, and free markets produce the most prosperity and happiness to the most people.  One of the people who contributed to our philosophy was a Nobel laureate in economics named Fredrich A. Hayek.

            Hayek was an original thinker and articulate proponent of the Austrian school of economics.  While teaching at the London School of Economics in London in 1944 Hayek published a book that turned out to be the practical beginning of a conservative renaissance opposed to the orthodoxy of the day of statism and socialism.  Tuesday, March 10 marks the anniversary of the date in 1944 that The Road To Serfdom was published in England.

            The book’s premise is that statism in general and socialism in particular inevitably devolve into dictatorship.

            Wartime paper shortages limited the reach of all new books in England at that time, but it nonetheless The Road to Serfdom was influential.  Even Lord Maynard Keynes gave the book a favorable review.  In her autobiography, former UK Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher wrote ".. the most powerful critique of socialist planning and the socialist state which I read at this time [the late 1940's], and to which I have returned so often since [is] F. A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom."

            The Road To Serfdom came to America the following year by way of a Readers’ Digest condensed version and a Book-Of-The-Month Club presentation.  Astoundingly, this book on economics and political philosophy became a smash hit in the States!

            Even though the book includes highly technical sections, Hayek was a lucid writer -- or at least benefited from a readable translation from the original German.  The Road To Serfdom is just as relevant today as it was when it first saw the light of day in war-torn England 65 years ago.

            One measure of Hayek’s importance is the list of enemies his work has acquired.  The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) has a great article about the way President Obama’s favorite economist, Paul Krugman, completely misunderstands Hayek at (http://www.auburn.edu/~garriro/e5hayek.htm).

            Other important Libertarian-themed works from Hayek include The Fatal Conceit (The Errors Of Socialism) and The Constitution Of Liberty.

            And no, actress Salma Hayek is not related.

 

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Patronize the businesses that are sponsors of the 2009 Libertarian Party of Georgia state convention.  Our sponsors include:

●       The Elliott Wave in Gainesville, Georgia: http://www.elliottwave.com/ -- financial services

●       R. James Properties in Atlanta: http://www.rjamesproperties.com/ -- rent or lease, or have them manage your properties

●       JD Aiken Company, Inc in Atlanta: http://www.jdaiken.com/ -- insurance brokerage

●       LH Thomson Company in Macon:  http://www.lhthomson.com/ -- contract manufacturing and specialty bicycle components

**************************************************

2.      Register Now For The State Convention

            The 2009 annual state Convention of the Libertarian Party of Georgia will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Hilton Atlanta NE in Norcross, the same place as last year’s convention.  Now is the time to reserve your tickets online at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/convention.php, before prices increase.

            Those purchasing a full day ticket will hear a slate of libertarian speakers.  This will include...

●       Wayne Allyn Root, our 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate, delivering an energetic presentation in his first Georgia appearance since the election;

●       Cato Institute economist Thomas Firey giving a humorous but sobering analysis of the current economic climate;

●       2008 Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr recapping the successful aspects of the campaign; and

●       Libertarian National Committee Chairman Bill Redpath explaining the bright future for The Libertarian Party in the face of the incompetence of the old parties

 

...And we continue to negotiate for additional speakers to engage and energize Libertarians.

            Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the state Convention, BUT... you MUST be a member of the Libertarian Party of Georgia to be eligible to become a voting Delegate -- membership in the LNC is not sufficient!  If you’re not sure of your status, call the state office at (404) 888-9468 and we’ll let you know.  Or just go ahead and renew or extend your membership online at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php. 

            Tickets for the whole Convention -- morning and afternoon sessions, lunch, the evening banquet, and all our featured speakers -- is just $79, a 27% drop from last year’s rate!  At the low end, $39 gets you lunch and the afternoon session.  As always, there is no charge for the morning business session.  Ticket prices will rise on April 1st, so sign up early for the best price.  Register online at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/convention.php.  If you prefer, you can print the order form at the end of this newsletter, or the one posted at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/pdf/2009_Convention_Registration.pdf and mail it with your check or credit card information to the LPGa office.  Or you can fax the form with your credit card information to the LPGa office at (404) 874-8339.

            The Libertarian Party of Georgia recognizes our convention sponsors: The Elliott Wave, L. H. Thomson Company, the J. D. Aiken Company, and R. James Properties.  We appreciate their support of Libertarian ideals in Georgia.

 

===================

3.      Press Release Of The Week: Libertarians Warn Of Bill To Invade Your Medical Privacy

            The Georgia Legislature is considering a law that would invade the privacy of innocent citizens for the ‘offense’ of having a cold, or insomnia, or anxiety, or chronic pain.  The Libertarian Party Of Georgia issued this media press release to call attention to this mistaken attempt as controlling free individuals.

 

Atlanta, GA:  A bill in the state legislature could compromise your privacy if you use certain prescribed or over-the-counter medicines, says the Libertarian Party of Georgia (LPGa).

HB 614, also referred to as the Georgia Prescription Monitoring Program Act, would create a database to monitor certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as Ritalin, Xanax, most pain medications, sleep aids and any product containing pseudoephedrine.

The legislation has cleared committee and is awaiting placement on the calendar for a vote by the Georgia House of Representatives.

“Both the Georgia and United States Constitution are very clear on the individual’s right to privacy and due process,” says LPGa Legislative Director Jason Pye.

You can read the entire press release at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/blog.php?article=95.  The Libertarian Party Of Georgia alerts the media as well as our members when government action or stupidity warrants.

 

===================

4.      A Message From The By-Laws Committee

            The business session of the State Convention will include consideration of changes to our party by-laws.  By-Laws committee chairman David Shock has this message to members of The Libertarian Party of Georgia.

            “Please send proposed by-laws changes to committee chair, David Shock, via e-mail to david-dot-shock-at-LPGeorgia-dot-com.  Please include existing language and proposed changes in the email text or as an attachment by no later than Friday, March 20, 2009.  A current copy of the LPGa by-laws can be found at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/pdf/LPGa_Bylaws_2008.pdf.”

            The members of the by-laws committee also include Jim Serrate, Chad Colopy, Jason Pye, and Doyle Jones.

 

**************************************************

LPGa T-Shirts on Sale Now!  The Libertarian Party of Georgia’s official T-shirt design is in stock and available for a donation of just $24.80, including shipping.  Proceeds fund our Public Outreach Program.  Visit www.lpgeorgia.com/buytshirt.php and order your LPGa T-shirt now!  Libertarian Party affiliates can get a discount on orders of a dozen or more, and there’s a nice price for individuals who want 12 or more at one time.  If you are looking for a large quantity of LPGa T-shirts, email Operations.Director-at-LPGeorgia-dot-com.

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5.      Libertarian Party of Georgia Says Reproduction Is Too Personal To Let The State Determine How Many Kids You Have

            Historian Robert Higgs, in his book Crisis And Leviathan, articulates the concept that the state manipulates natural crisis (or creates artificial ones) in order to increase government control.  Here at home, the state Legislature is using a bizarre incident that has only occurred one time ever and has never happened in Georgia as the opportunity to control how many children you and your family can have.

 

The economy is falling apart around our ears. Georgia’s high school graduation rate ranks 49th. But what does state Senator Ralph Hudgens (R-Athens) think the most pressing issue for the state is? Preventing a woman from ‘overdoing’ in-vitro fertilization.

 

The Senator is responding to the birth of octuplets in January. Nadya Suleman of California gave birth to eight babies after an IVF procedure implanted six viable embryos. Hudgens is one of the busybodies outraged that the California woman is unmarried, already had six children, and is on government assistance.

 

Concerned about something that has never happened in Georgia and has occurred only one time in the entire world, Senator Hudgens dropped SB-169, “The Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act,” (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/sb169.htm) to limit the number of embryos that could be implanted in an IVF procedure.

 

You can read the rest of the article at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/blog.php?article=94.  The Libertarian Party of Georgia makes sure the press and our elected representatives know that we believe the freedom option is always is the best one.

 

======================================

6.      Opportunities To Run The Libertarian Party of Georgia!

            Many leadership positions will be up for election at our state convention on April 18th.  The people who fill these posts will be the ones who set strategy, priorities, and tactics for the next year -- and YOU can be one of them!  It’s a chance to have more impact than just coming to meetings and renewing your membership.

 

            The Convention will choose two Officers: a Secretary and a Vice Chair.  It also will select four at-large representatives, while delegates will elect a total of 15 regional representatives from the party’s five state districts.  Any of these positions might be yours, but only if you attend the state party convention and raise your hand.

 

            The requirements are simple: you MUST be a member of the Libertarian Party of Georgia (LNC membership is not enough!), and you must be willing to attend an Executive Committee meeting in Atlanta each month, either in person or by teleconference, where party policy is decided.  Representatives also are responsible for keeping an eye on the local affiliates in their area, and helping create new ones.

 

            The Convention will take nominations from the floor, but if you let the state office know in advance of your intent to run, we can publicize your interest.

 

            Other than running for public office in a general election, the most impact you can have on politics is being a delegate to the convention and running for a party position.  Attend the convention and run for office!

 

======================================

7.      Libertarian Meetings Near You

New affiliates are being formed all over Georgia.  Contact the office for the one nearest you, or check our updated affiliates page (www.lpgeorgia.com/affiliates.php) at our website.  Can’t find meetings in your area?  Form an affiliate!  We’ve made it easy!  Contact our Operations Director for a Start-Up Kit -- or call him at (404) 888-9468.

 

Atlanta/Fulton County: The Libertarian Party of Atlanta meets on the second Monday of each month.  Join us on Monday, March 9th at 7 PM at the Silverton Mortgage building in Atlanta, at 1027 Monroe Drive.  We are preparing ourselves for the annual convention to take place on the 28th.  The agenda items include voting on the Director of Event Coordination and selecting a committee; setting the date for the monthly social gathering; and discussing involvement in local bids for office.  Find out more at the website at http://libertarian.meetup.com/444/, or email Chairman Anne Harper at anneandreah-at-gmail-dot-com.

 

Macon/Bibb County: The Libertarian Party of Macon meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the Books-A-Million in Macon, at 2115 Eisenhower Parkway.  Join us at 7 PM on       Tuesday, March 10th.  To find out more, email Chairman David Corr and corrd-at-bellsouth-dot-net.

 

Augusta: The Central Savannah River Area Libertarian Party (CSRA LP) meets on the second Wednesday at a new location: at the 1102 Bar And Grill in Augusta, at 1102 Broad Street.  Join us at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 11th.  Chairman Rocky Eades says about the new location: "Our only condition for using this venue is that we take care of the wait person. Come hungry and/or thirsty. The food is excellent, the beer is cold and the coffee is hot!"  Find out more at http://www.meetup.com/Augusta-libertarian/, or email Chairman Rocky Eades at kiddleddee-at-yahoo-dot-com.

 

Kennesaw State University: The College Libertarians of KSU will NOT meet on Wednesday, March 11th.  We return to our normal schedule on Wednesday, March 25th.  You can get details by emailing us at ksulibertarians-at-gmail-dot-com.

 

Hall & Gwinnett Counties: The Libertarian Party of Hall And Gwinnett meets for breakfast on the second Saturday of the month.  Join us at 9:30 AM on Saturday, March 14th at our new location: the Cafe:ine coffee shop in Buford at 4050 Buford Drive, between Satellite Boulevard and Golden Corral.  "We will discuss what strategy to take given the current economic climate."  Find out more online at www.libertarian.meetup.com/429, or email Chairman Brandon Givens at

BrandonGivens-at-hotmail-dot-com.

 

Douglas County: The Libertarian Party of Douglas meets on the third Sunday of each month at Provino's Restaurant in Douglasville, at 2911 Chapel Hill Road.  Join us at 4 PM on Sunday, March 15th to meet with other freedom-minded people in the area.  Find out more online at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/douglas/, or email us at lpdouglas-at-yahoo-dot-com.

 

Athens/Clarke County: The Athens Area Libertarian Party meets on the third Tuesday of the month.  Join us on St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 PM at Stevi B's Pizza in Athens, at 122 Alps Road.  Find out more at the website, http://libertarian.meetup.com/353/, or email Chairman Ed Nachman at ednachman-at-hotmail-dot-com.

 

Augusta: The Central Savannah River Area Libertarian Party (CSRA LP) has planned a rally and sign waving to protest the continued occupation of Iraq, and the expansion of the occupation of Afghanistan. We will also call attention to the expansion of the war into Pakistan and the uptick in the belligerence towards Iran.  We will get together at 5 PM on Thursday, March 19th -- the 6th anniversary of the war.  Details will be forthcoming -- check for information online at http://www.meetup.com/Augusta-libertarian/calendar/9874438/?a=cv1o_grp, or email Chairman Rocky Eades at kiddleddee-at-yahoo-dot-com.

 

Cobb County: The Libertarian Party of Cobb County meets for breakfast on the third Saturday of the month.  Join us at 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 21 at the Marietta Piccadilly, at 236 Cobb Pkwy SE.  "The Breakfast Buffet is less than $9.00 and custom omelets are available at no extra charge."  Find out more at http://libertarian.meetup.com/382/, or email Chairman Matt Godown at Matt.Godown@LPGeorgia.com.

 

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8.      Newest Members In The Libertarian Party of Georgia

The Libertarian Party of Georgia sends a big “thank-you” to our newest members: Emily Poole of Fayetteville, David Jones of Atlanta, and Rick Granger in Lawrenceville.  And we are grateful for renewals from Loronzo Thomson of Macon and Walker Chandler in Molena.  We appreciate your support for the Libertarian Party of Georgia!

 

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“Operation Politically Homeless”  Your Libertarian Party of Georgia wants to create a professional display booth to take to outreach events like the Pride Festival and the North Georgia Fair.  “Operation Politically Homeless” (OPH) is a proven method of getting the message of individual liberty out, and of growing the party membership.  As with so many good things in life, it takes money -- money we don’t have.  Please “chip in” and make an earmarked donation to help us out!  Go to the “professional display booth” chip-in at the LPGa home page to contribute.

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Got a news tip?  Send it in!  INFO-at-LPGeorgia-dot-com

 

 

What’s going on where you live?  Make sure all Georgia Libertarians are informed of your activities.  Send announcements and news to operations-dot-director-at-lpgeorgia-dot-com.

 

-          Join the Party

Ø             Having a membership card from the national party does not make you a member of the LPGa!  Because we have separate membership rosters, we do not benefit from your LNC membership.  Don’t quit them, join us, at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php!

 

-          Renew Your Membership

Ø             Is your membership current?  Or have you been a member in the past, but not renewed recently?  Call the office to check your status at (404) 888-9468, or just go ahead and extend your membership another 12 months at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.

 

-          Begin Your Pledge

Ø             Are you ready to make the ultimate commitment?  Join the LPGeorgia Pledge Program and ensure that our Libertarian beliefs will reach the people of Georgia! Your small monthly contribution adds up to important financial stability for the party.  Will you spare even $5 a month to help your Libertarian Party of Georgia boost the largest minority, the individual?  Only with your pledge can we make long-term financial plans!  http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.

 

-          Enroll A Friend

Ø             Are you ready to make the ultimate commitment?  Join the LPGeorgia Pledge Program and ensure that our Libertarian beliefs will reach the people of Georgia! Your small monthly contribution adds up to important financial stability for the party.  Will you spare even $5 a month to help your Libertarian Party of Georgia boost the largest minority, the individual?  Only with your pledge can we make long-term financial plans!  http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.

 

 

 

 

The Libertarian Party of Georgia

1776 Peachtree Street NW  ●  Suite 715 South Tower  ●  Atlanta, GA 30309

 

Daniel N. Adams, Chairman

 

Tony Trauring, Operations Director

 

 

The Libertarian Party of Georgia, Inc distributes the Georgia Libertarian Online (GLO).  Any inquiries regarding this e-mail should go here.  If you would rather not get future updates from the LPGa, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Posted by Doug Craig at 3/9/2009 2:26 PM | View Comments (48) | Add Comment

Update on Kathryn Johnston and the no knock warrant tha killed her

 

Here is an update on one the worst no knock warrant in years that to the death of Kathryn Johnston
this is in the www.ajc.com

 

 

Documents reveal details in Johnston slaying, cover-up

Three former Atlanta police officers will be sentenced in court for the botched raid

By BILL TORPY, BILL RANKIN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Jason Smith was losing it. “I [screwed] up; I think I killed this woman,” the Atlanta narcotics cop told partner Arthur Tesler in the yard behind a small brick bungalow on Neal Street. “You guys got to help me.”

Inside, a 92-year-old woman lay dead, killed by a fusillade of police bullets. Officer Gregg Junnier, his face grazed by a bullet and bleeding, stalked through the home looking for suspects and contraband.

Enlarge this image

staff

Kathryn Johnston, 92, died in a drug raid based on a warrant obtained under false pretenses.

• More photos of the Kathryn Johnston case

HOW WE GOT THE STORY

This account of the police cover-up involving the 2006 death of Kathryn Johnston is drawn from court testimony, documents produced by the U.S. Attorney's Office and a sentencing memorandum written by federal prosecutors based on their two-year investigation. The broad outlines of the cover-up by former officers Gregg Junnier, Jason Smith and Arthur Tesler are contained in the memorandum. The officers' conversations, as well as other details of their plot, are drawn from the testimony of Junnier and Tesler in Tesler's trial in Fulton County Superior Court in May. Reporters Bill Torpy and Bill Rankin also interviewed lawyers involved in the case.

Recent headlines:

   • Atlanta and Fulton County news

But there were no dealers, no kilo of cocaine. The tip that brought police to 933 Neal St. was as bogus as the story they used to sell a judge on the raid.

Desperation and self-preservation kicked in. Smith remembered the marijuana seized earlier that day. Better make it look like a drug house, he reckoned. He pulled baggies of pot from his sleeve, nodded to Tesler, and planted them in the basement.

The Nov. 21, 2006, killing of Kathryn Johnston, two days before Thanksgiving, outraged residents of the northwest neighborhood, shocked the nation and rocked Atlanta’s police force. It laid bare the corruption of an out-of-control narcotics squad that lied to get search warrants and planted drugs on suspects.

This time, Smith had authored the trumped-up affidavit. For all three, it was business as usual.

On Monday, the three former officers will be together again in federal court to be sentenced for conspiring to violate Johnston’s civil rights. A sentencing memo from prosecutors to the judge, along with prior testimony and other court records, reveals how the officers concocted a sophisticated cover-up that fell apart when Junnier, the squad veteran and the son of a cop, turned on his colleagues. He crossed the “blue line.”

Getting the story straight

Two hours after the shootout, Junnier lay in a hospital bed with flesh wounds to his cheek and thigh. Smith and Tesler sidled up to him, waiting for his room at Grady Memorial Hospital to clear.

Junnier was irritated; Smith seemed more concerned about getting their story straight than how he was doing. Smith was mad because Junnier hadn’t answered his cellphone at the hospital.

The three officers were members of a squad with free rein to operate in a netherworld of drugs, criminals and danger. The rules and truth were measured on a sliding, situational scale. They had to depend on each other. But they weren’t friends. And now trust was in short supply.

But they were in this together. They began to construct what federal prosecutors would call “a diligent and devious effort” to deflect their complicity.

Their sergeant and lieutenant had already questioned Smith and Tesler. Now the two told Junnier the story they were going with: that they got the warrant for the raid after Alex White, a reliable snitch they often used, purchased crack cocaine at the Neal Street home. They’d told their superiors they drove White to the house in a patrol car.

Junnier was incredulous.

“Take an informant to make a buy in a patrol car?” he asked. “You’re going to have to come up with something better than that.”

At 40, Junnier had 18 years on the force, eight in narcotics. He’d followed his father into the brotherhood of blue. His wife was a nurse, and Junnier worked second jobs to send her to school. He skipped lunch with his partners so he could clock out quickly and go home to their son and daughter.

But part of his side income came from “security jobs” prosecutors say he ran while on duty, jobs in which the cops, for weekly cash payments, provided extra surveillance for businesses in high-crime areas. Authorities suggest Junnier and others cut corners not only to more easily catch criminals but to save time to work their crooked jobs.

Now the job was to get White, the informant, on board with their story. Later that night, Smith called Junnier to say things were set with White.

“He’s cool with everything,” he told his anxious colleague.

Feeling the heat

The tragic string of events had started at 4 p.m. Nov. 21, 2006, when Tesler roughed up and arrested small-time dope slinger Fabian Sheats and threatened him with prison unless he gave up someone bigger. The nervous suspect eventually picked out Johnston’s home — apparently at random — where he said he saw a dealer named “Sam” with a kilo of cocaine just an hour before. The officers were pumped. A kilo was a huge score for cops used to seizures measured in grams.

But Sheats was unreliable, so they called White at 5:05 p.m. to come make a buy to prove a dealer lived there. White couldn’t come. But for this squad, it didn’t matter. They’d just invent the facts they needed.

The officers were at the Fulton County jail a half hour later to get a warrant from a magistrate. Smith told the judge they had watched “Sam” greet their informant, go inside and sell him drugs. At 5:53 p.m., they had their “no-knock” warrant. It would allow them to batter down the door and catch the criminals inside by surprise.

By 7 p.m. Johnston lay dead, shot five or six times. Believing intruders were at her door, she’d fired her revolver once. The entry team responded with 39 shots.

The next day, a worried Tesler approached Junnier, who’d been released from the hospital. He told him their supervisor suspected they were lying. Still, the sergeant had told him, “You need to get your story together and stick to it.”

To that end, Tesler wrote a police report to match the false affidavit and cover story.

A stocky, well-built New York native, Tesler, 40, had joined the Army at 24 to get experience as a military policeman so he could become a cop. He joined the Atlanta force in 1999.

As the rookie on the narcotics squad, Tesler recalls being told to “listen and learn.” He apparently did. Prosecutors say 19 of the 20 search warrants he authored contained false statements.

Over the next few days, Tesler, Junnier and Smith continued to fine-tune their story. They also called White repeatedly, offering him cash to get on board.

After Thanksgiving, the officers met at My Cousin Vinny’s, a Marietta pizza joint. Smith, a lean and boyish 34-year-old, walked in carrying a pile of papers.

A former officer with the Georgia Army National Guard who served in Bosnia and Iraq, Smith was known as meticulous and detail-oriented. In his hand was a typed summary of their version of events, a script for all to study.

They had junked their story about driving White to the Neal Street house in a patrol car. Now they rehearsed how they had gotten there in White’s car — “recalling” it smelled of mildew. They agreed they’d seen the informant walk down the driveway to meet the suspected drug dealer.

Layers of details would make their stories believable. But they were just more lies to keep straight.

The men got touchy as the days wore on. They worried about phone taps. They tracked who was talking to whom.

Their paranoia was realized the next week when informant White went to a television station and spilled his story: After the shooting, he said, two narcotics cops told him “you need to cover our [rear].”

Police Chief Richard Pennington held a news conference with federal and state law enforcement officials to discuss White’s shocking allegation.

Feeling the heat, the three officers called another meeting. This time they drove the route they claimed to have traveled with White to absorb small details, such as the carwash parking lot where they’d “met” him. Smith even drew a diagram showing the direction White’s car had faced.

The story unravels

On Dec. 7, Tesler went to speak with FBI agents now wary of the officers’ tale. Junnier’s attorney already had approached the agents and mentioned it was possible Junnier would corroborate White.

But Tesler knew nothing of this.

As a patrolman, Tesler has said, he reported another cop for using racist language and turning situations on the street volatile. But instead of being supported by the department, he said, he was demoted to duty at the airport. Worse, he became known as a “rat.”

He didn’t want to live through that again. He stuck with their fabricated story.

Afterward, Tesler called Junnier and asked him to meet in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant in Cobb County.

Junnier could see Tesler was agitated.

“He was worried I was breaking away from them,” Junnier recalled. “He told me I needed to stick with them.”

On Dec. 11, in his first interview with the FBI, Junnier broke ranks. He admitted it was all a lie.

The officer says his decision came after consulting his wife and pastor. But Junnier knew what the criminals he busted knew: First one in gets the best deal.

On Dec. 21, agents rattled Tesler, confronting him with details they’d learned from Junnier. Tesler asked whether he could return after the holidays with his attorney.

Around Christmas, Junnier got a panicked call from Smith: Tesler hadn’t called after his second FBI meeting, he said. Smith figured Tesler was cooperating.

Then Junnier got a call from Tesler. He wanted to meet again at the Mexican restaurant. He thought Tesler sounded strange, so he brought a gun.

What happened at that meeting depends on who is telling the story. Junnier claims Tesler told him they needed to stick together.

Tesler says he was frightened by his two more senior officers, who kept dragging him deeper into the plot. He recalls telling Junnier that his wife was pregnant with their fourth child. He wanted out.

Paying the price

On Jan. 4, 2007, Tesler told FBI agents he had lied. A week later, Smith caved.

In the end, they all implicated each other.

The revelations eroded public trust in the Atlanta Police Department, which disbanded and later rebuilt the narcotics department. Fulton County prosecutors were forced to review scores of pending cases and ultimately dismissed or reduced the charges in 69, meaning several likely criminals went free.

“It has harmed the community, the many honest members of the police force that protect the community, the integrity of the justice system and, indeed, the very rule of law,” federal prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum.

All three officers have pleaded guilty. Prosecutors are seeking more than 12 years imprisonment for Smith, with up to a 20 percent reduction for his cooperation. The recommendation for Tesler is 10 years.

But authorities want a “substantial reduction” to Junnier’s 10-year sentence because of “his almost unprecedented decision” to cross the “blue line.” His early cooperation allowed the case to be solved in weeks, “rather than months or years” had authorities been forced to use circumstantial evidence and drug-dealing snitches.

Prosecutors say the three ex-cops should be equally responsible for one thing: They must pay Johnston’s estate $8,180 — the cost of burying her.

Posted by Doug Craig at 2/22/2009 9:24 AM | View Comments (53) | Add Comment

Georgia Blue Laws

Georgia Blue Laws : When are people going to understand we are not free. If you can not buy something on Sunday because of the religious nuts you are not free. I do not want hear anything about pre planning and buying on the day before. It is no ones place to tell me when I can or can not buy anything and I am talking about anything ( as long as no one is harmed).



posted at www.ajc.com
Economy could revitalize Sunday alcohol fight

By SHANNON McCAFFREY

Associated Press

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Georgia’s slumping economy could breathe new life into an effort to permit alcohol sales on Sunday in the state, supporters said.

State Sen. Seth Harp said he will reintroduce the Sunday sales measure in the legislative session set to begin Jan. 12.

Enlarge this image

BEN GRAY/AJC

State Sen. Seth Harp said he will reintroduce the Sunday alcohol sales measure in the legislative session set to begin Jan. 12.

“I can think of millions of reasons why it would be attractive this year,” the Republican from Midland said, referring to the millions of dollars in additional tax revenues supporters estimate Sunday sales would yield in Georgia.

That argument could prove persuasive in a year where the state is grappling with a budget deficit that could top $2 billion.

The state excise tax on alcoholic beverages is one of the few taxes where revenues have continued to climb even as the economy has worsened.

For the fiscal year that began July 1, the alcohol excise tax that stores pay to wholesalers rose by 1.8 percent even as most other revenue sources plummeted.

The Sunday sales measure has failed to win approval for the past two years in the Georgia Legislature. Gov. Sonny Perdue, a teetotaler and Christian conservative, has said he opposes allowing stores to sell alcohol on the Sabbath.

Grocery and convenience stores have been pushing for the change, saying their customers are clamoring for it.

Georgia is one of only three states that ban stores from selling any kind of alcohol on Sundays. The other two are Connecticut and Indiana.

The bill would give local governments the option on whether to permit Sunday alcohol sales. Voters in those areas would then have to approve the change at the ballot box.

Opponents promised a vigorous fight against the proposal again this year.

Jim Beck, executive director of the Georgia Christian Coalition, said he was unmoved by the fiscal argument.

“Would the senator be willing to legalize prostitution and tax that, too?” Beck asked. “I think there are greater issues at stake here than just a quick buck.”

There was no precise figure on how much additional sales tax revenue Sunday sales would bring in, because it would depend on which communities opt in.

But a spokesman for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said that allowing liquor sales statewide would bring up to $4.8 million in increased taxes.

An official with Publix, one of Georgia’s largest supermarket chains, said the sale of beer and wine at grocery stores on Sunday would result in $1.4 million in extra excise taxes and at least $3.3 million in new sales tax revenue.

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/18/2008 9:51 AM | View Comments (53) | Add Comment

Another no -Knock warrant gone bad in Atlanta

 

 THE War on Drugs is bad for freedom and the saftey of people living in Atlanta.

This is the second case the www.ajc.com has covered. It makes you wonder how many of these cases  go down we do not hear about. At what point are people going to get tired of this.
 If you are a police officer it is time you guys stand up and speak out against this. If you do not speak out against this then you are part of the proplem.

 

Gwinnett police break down wrong door

3-month-old baby was in the house

By ANDRIA SIMMONS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Gwinnett County police drug investigators on Wednesday served a “no-knock” search warrant and forced entry into a Lawrenceville house, but soon discovered they were at the wrong address.

In a news release, a Gwinnett police official said it was “a case of human error and not deliberate malfeasance on the part of the investigator.”


 

The investigators intended to serve the search warrant at a home on Valley Spring Drive in Lawrenceville about 9:15 a.m. One of the investigators mistakenly pointed out another house nearby.

Once the officers forced entry to the house, they briefly detained a male and female resident before determining they were in the wrong place.

The search was immediately halted and no intrusive search was ever executed, said police spokeswoman Cpl. Illana Spellman. A supervisor came to the scene to further explain the situation and apologize to the residents.

The department also is paying to repair their front door, Spellman said.

“Everyone apologized extensively to them for the mistake,” the spokeswoman said. “It’s a mistake on our part so we’ll take the full responsibility for that.”

Spellman said she wasn’t sure why confusion arose over the address. The department did not release the name of the investigator at fault.

The front door was patched with a piece of wood Wednesday night, but splinters still littered the front hallway of the home of John Louis, 38, and his girlfriend Heather James, 37.

Louis said he was upstairs working from a home office when police used a battering ram to break through the door. James and their 3-month-old daughter were asleep in separate bedrooms.

“They came in here and put guns to us. The house was full of police,” Louis said. “I’ve never had a gun in my face before. I’ve never even held a gun.”

He said that he and James, who was in a nightgown, were ordered at gunpoint to lie on the floor. When he tried to ask what they wanted, Louis said, he was told to “shut up.”

After the officers roamed through the house for a few minutes, they spotted the baby and realized their mistake, Louis said. He said they apologized and told him they confused his home with that of a neighbor two doors down, a suspected methamphetamine distributor.

Louis said he still has questions for police about how such a mistake happened.

“If you had the house under surveillance for three months, why did you come here?” Louis said. “You broke in here and put all our lives in danger, and all you can say is you’re sorry?”

After the snafu, officers went to the correct house and served the search warrant, which was part of a three-month drug investigation that police said is still ongoing.

Efrain Pedruza, 31, was arrested without incident, and $24,000 in cash was seized. Pedruza is being held on related charges in Gwinnett County Jail.

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/11/2008 9:46 AM | View Comments (39) | Add Comment

Cato video on the auto bailout

 This video was sent to me from Cato

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/10/2008 9:36 AM | View Comments (54) | Add Comment

Bob Barr campaign ends in major debt while his PAC continues to fund Republicans

This was stolen from Last Free Voice

 www.lastfreevoice.com

Bob Barr campaign ends in major debt while his PAC continues to fund Republicans

December 5, 2008 by susanhogarth

You can look up Barr’s filings here:

But just a few notes. He seems to have ended his campaign in major debt - with $38,478.79 cash-on-hand, his debt is $233,327.41. Yes, a quarter-million dollars, about 20% of his total fundraising effort. It’s itemized here, but I’ll also reproduce the itemization:

Campaigner Pro 2379 Holly Lane Ste 210
Ottawa, ON K1V 7P2
, ____		 12 6057.34 Software
American Express PO Box 981540
El Paso, Texas 799981540		 12 44057.28 Campaign Expenses
Gillis Express Mailing 9208 Enterprise Ct
Manassas Park, Virginia 201114809		 12 433.95 Direct Marketing
All Points Packaging & Distribution, In 1650 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, Georgia 303183645		 12 1149.42 Online Order Fulfillment
Press Well Services, Inc. 9204-B Vassau Ct
Manassas Park, Virginia 201114849		 12 1756.13 Printing
UPS PO Box 7247-0244
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19170		 12 1362.05 Shipping
McKenna Long & Aldridge PO Box 116573
Atlanta, Georgia 30368		 12 39414.69 Legal Fees
Terra Eclipse 9043 Soquel Dr
Aptos, California 95003		 12 35566.87 IT
Mr. Shane Cory 5 Burwell Place
Stafford, Virginia 225547828		 12 20105.82 Political Consulting
Dr. Robert B. Stuber 11401 Little Bay Harbor Way
Spotsylvania, Virginia 225518904		 12 4000.00 Political Consulting
Mr. Steve Sinton 1923 Fields Pond Glen
Marietta, Georgia 300681575		 12 4000.00 Political Consulting
Lisa Franzman 21 N. Kalaheo Ave
Kailua, Hawaii 96734		 12 2160.00 Rent
Russ Verney 6812 Summer Meadow Ln
Dallas, Texas 75252		 12 15000.00 Political Consulting
Wayne Allen Root PO Box 725007
Atlanta, Georgia 311392007		 12 4797.81 Campaign Expenses
James Bovard 1348 Templeton Place
Rockville, Maryland 20852		 12 47000.00 Authoring Fee
Doug Bandow 7901 Cliff Rock Ct
Springfield, Virginia 22153		 12 6466.05 Political Consulting

And, lest we forget, his PAC is still active. And still funding at least one Republican (Greg Ball) mere weeks before the election.

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/5/2008 10:39 AM | View Comments (27) | Add Comment

Did Bob Barr's campaign spend money on clothes?

Group: Other candidates used donor money on duds

Turns out Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wasn't the only candidate with donor-financed duds.

By SHARON THEIMER

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON —

Turns out Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wasn't the only candidate with donor-financed duds.

At least five candidates used campaign money for clothing, according to a complaint that a watchdog group filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics said the campaigns of Democratic Reps. Loretta Sanchez of California and Rob Andrews of New Jersey, Republican candidates Bill Dew of Utah and William Breazeale of North Carolina and Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr each spent hundreds of dollars on clothing.

The group says that violates a ban on personal use of campaign money. Earlier, the group filed a complaint against the Republican National Committee for buying tens of thousands of dollars worth of clothing for Palin, the party's vice presidential nominee. The RNC and Palin have said they did nothing wrong and that all the apparel and accessories were being returned.

CREW's review of campaign finance reports found Dew's campaign spending $1,089 on clothing for him at Men's Wearhouse; Sanchez's campaign spending about $189 on "meeting clothing" for Sanchez and $145 on clothing for an aide; Breazeale's campaign purchasing $1,000 in clothing for Breazeale at a men's store in North Carolina; and $954 in clothing purchased by Andrews' campaign for a staffer who lost his luggage. Barr aide Andrew MacPherson received a $500 clothing allowance from Barr's campaign, a filing with the FEC shows.

Dew said he wasn't aware he had spent campaign money on clothing until he was contacted Tuesday by The Associated Press and checked with his family.

"I don't remember buying any clothing unless my daughter bought me some ties and charged it to the campaign," said Dew, a former home builder. "I used over $500,000 of my own money on this campaign. ... I don't see anything wrong with using my own money to use on personal things." Dew also accepted contributions to his campaign.

A Barr spokesman said the campaign did nothing wrong. "It was an appropriate expense associated with the campaign," said Russ Verney, Barr's campaign manager.

Spokespeople for Sanchez, Andrews and Breazeale did not immediately respond to AP's requests for comment. Sanchez and Andrews won re-election last month. Barr, Breazeale and Dew lost their races.

---

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/2/2008 2:04 PM | View Comments (56) | Add Comment

BREAKING NEWS: State Law TRUMPS Fed Law on Medical Marijuana

War on Drugs

This was sent to me from Loretta Nall

BREAKING NEWS: State Law TRUMPS Fed Law on Medical Marijuana



US Supreme Court Rules State Medical Marijuana Laws Not Preempted by Federal Law

-------------------------------------------------------------------
*PRESS RELEASE
Americans for Safe Access
For Immediate Release: *December 1, 2008

*U.S. Supreme Court: State Medical Marijuana Laws Not Preempted by Federal
Law */medical marijuana case appealed by the City of Garden Grove was denied
review today/

*Washington, DC* -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a landmark
decision today in which California state courts found that its medical
marijuana law was not preempted by federal law. The state appellate court
decision from November 28, 2007, ruled that "it is not the job of the local
police to enforce the federal drug laws." The case, involving Felix Kha, a
medical marijuana patient from Garden Grove, was the result of a wrongful
seizure of medical marijuana by local police in June 2005.
Medical marijuana advocates hailed today's decision as a huge victory in
clarifying law enforcement's obligation to uphold state law. Advocates
assert that better adherence to state medical marijuana laws by local police
will result in fewer needless arrests and seizures. In turn, this will allow
for better implementation of medical marijuana laws not only in California,
but in all states that have adopted such laws.

"It's now settled that state law enforcement officers cannot arrest medical
marijuana patients or seize their medicine simply because they prefer the
contrary federal law," said Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with Americans for
Safe Access (ASA), the medical marijuana advocacy organization that
represented the defendant Felix Kha in a case that the City of Garden Grove
appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Perhaps, in the future local government
will think twice about expending significant time and resources to defy a
law that is overwhelmingly supported by the people of our state."

California medical marijuana patient Felix Kha was pulled over by the Garden
Grove Police Department and cited for possession of marijuana, despite Kha
showing the officers proper documentation. The charge against Kha was
subsequently dismissed, with the Superior Court of Orange County issuing an
order to return Kha's wrongfully seized 8 grams of medical marijuana. The
police, backed by the City of Garden Grove, refused to return Kha's medicine
and the city appealed. Before the 41-page decision was issued a year ago by
California's Fourth District Court of Appeal, the California Attorney
General filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of Kha's right to
possess his medicine. The California Supreme Court then denied review in
March.

"The source of local law enforcement's resistance to upholding state law is
an outdated, harmful federal policy with regard to medical marijuana," said
ASA spokesperson Kris Hermes. "This should send a message to the federal
government that it's time to establish a compassionate policy more
consistent with the 13 states that have adopted medical marijuana laws."

Further information:
Today's U.S. Supreme Court Order denying review:
http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/Kha_USSC.pdf
Decision by the California Fourth Appellate District Court:
http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/GardenGroveDecision.pdf
Felix Kha's return of property case:
http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/article.php?id=4412

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/2/2008 11:17 AM | View Comments (86) | Add Comment

Buckley will not vote for Saxby Chambliss

Days Before Runoff, Libertarian Candidate Talks About Senate Race
Last Edited: Sunday, 30 Nov 2008, 11:13 PM EST
Created: Sunday, 30 Nov 2008, 10:28 PM EST
With just two days to go before the Georgia Senate election, the man who sent it into a runoff talked about the race Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.
Reported By: George Franco
Edited By: Leigha Baugham

ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) – With just two days to go before the Georgia Senate election, the man who sent it into a runoff talked about the race Sunday.

Back in November, Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley picked up nearly 3.5 percent of the vote in the election.  Buckley got enough votes to send the Senate race into a runoff.

Buckley said he hoped to have some input with the remaining candidates Democrat Jim Martin or Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.

Video: Days Before Runoff, Libertarian Candidate Talks About Senate Race
FOX 5's George Franco Reports

Buckley said he wouldn't publicly endorse either Martin or Chambliss because neither candidate signed a 10 point commitment statement.

Buckley said he wanted the candidates to commit to, among other things, cutting pork barrel spending, fixing social security and not voting for an unbalanced budget.

While Buckley said he wouldn't endorse a candidate, he did say he knew who he wouldn't be voting for.

"I have not endorsed either man so as of right now, I can tell you I will not vote for Saxby Chambliss," Buckley said.

Posted by Doug Craig at 12/1/2008 4:06 PM | View Comments (22) | Add Comment
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