Musings from Brian J. Noggle: It's Gonna Take Martial Law, Curfew Ain't Gonna Get It

It's Gonna Take Martial Law, Curfew Ain't Gonna Get It

They told us all along that reelection of George W. Bush would result in the further encroachment of fascism on the American public. Here's a new proposal in Baltimore to give the mayor the power to set up checkpoints and block off whole sectors of the city for, well:

A city council leader, alarmed by Baltimore's rising homicide rate, wants to give the mayor the power to put troubled neighborhoods under virtual lockdown.

"Desperate measures are needed when we're in desperate situations," City Council Vice President Robert W. Curran told The (Baltimore) Sun. He said he would introduce the legislation next week.

Under Curran's plan, the mayor could declare "public safety act zones," which would allow police to close liquor stores and bars, limit the number of people on city sidewalks, and halt traffic during two-week intervals.

Police would be encouraged to aggressively stop and frisk individuals in those zones to search for weapons and drugs.

You know, something's missing in that story. All the stories on the wire just lack a certain detail whose omission is glaring. What is it? I can't quite put my finger on it. Oh, wait.

"Desperate measures are needed when we're in desperate situations," City Council Vice President Robert W. Curran (

, District 003) told The (Baltimore) Sun. He said he would introduce the legislation next week.

I guess we know why some Democrats want the US troops out of Iraq: so they can set up checkpoints, conduct raids, and do their pacification in the United States.

Fortunately, another city councilman takes a bold stand for civil liberties:

Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr., a mayoral hopeful, said Curran's idea was an interesting concept but it raised questions about civil liberties.

"We have to make sure we're not declaring martial law," he said.

An interesting concept? Forget it, we're done.

And you know, I made a big deal about Curran's party affiliation, but it's not so much democratic party as it is the new Aristocratic party:

With strong family ties to politics (his brother is Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., and his niece Catherine Curran O'Malley is the mayor's wife and a District Court judge in Baltimore City), Curran was one of 10 council members to hire relatives for staff positions. Curran reportedly put a niece on the City Council staff payroll. Hiring a niece was legal, though the council found itself in ethical hot water because of it.

Like the Gores, Blunts, Carnahans, Bushes, et al., our country sure looks to be heading toward a rule by self-selected families instead of citizens, is it not?

- posted by Brian J. @ 6:25 PM