Here is something I never knew that I was educated regarding thanks to a Kennedy: Capitol Hill in Washington DC has it's own police force. Not only that: They are the only police force that receives it's funding directly from Congress!
"So what?" you ask? Well, let's take this hypothetical situation:
Let's say a Congressman appears to be driving drunk and has an accident. Let's say the first officer on the scene thinks that this man's breath smells of alcohol. What happens when the police force that this officer serves on receives it's funding directly from the man being investigated? The officers supervisor tells the officer not to do an on scene breathilizer test. He tells him not to bring the offending driver to the station for further questioning. In fact, this supervisor arrives at the scene and drives the offending motorist home!
Whoops, my fault, the above wasn't hypothetical. In fact there are police reports that the Congressman (Let's just call him "Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)") was "staggering and appeared intoxicated after he nearly hit a Capitol Police cruiser and then struck the barrier." And it has been discovered that the Capitol Police superior officers "prevented rank-and-file cops from properly investigating the crash."
When asked where he was going, Congressman Kennedy answered that he was "late to a vote." Did I mention it was 2:45am? He claimed that he was disoriented by the prescription drugs he had taken. One of which was a sleeping pill.
So, at 2:45am smelling of alcohol and claiming he'd taken prescription drugs (which are never to be taken with alcohol and most say not to operate heavy machinery when taken (Is a car heavy machinery?)), a Congressman with his headlights off nearly hits a police car and then slams into a cement barrier. He staggers out of his car smelling of alcohol and claims he is late to a vote. Is there not enough evidence to investigate this?
Many who know my political leanings may think that I'm railing on this due to this Congressman's last name. You would be only partially correct. Substitute this man with any Republican or Independent and the major problem remains: The police department that has jurisdiction over this incident is funded by the very man they are investigating! Can you say "Conflict of interest?"
How are the people in this area expected to feel safe if the police are not allowed to treat everyone equally because of who sends them their paychecks?! Can I try that? Next time I'm pulled over (which would be the first time), can I announce that I pay for the officer's salary and demand that they let me go?
Apparently the motto of Congress is: "We not only write the laws, we're above them!" (Please refrain from commenting regarding your beliefs of the President's stance on this motto. Thank you for your self restraint). Seriously, why isn't Capitol Hill under the DCPD? Or Maryland? Or Virginia? Does it make any sense to fund these people directly from Congress?
As a wise man once said, "I just think government ought to be run better than that!"
My final pondering is: Do you think Kennedy had to say "Do you know who I am?" Or was the calvary on the way as soon as they ran his plates?
Do you know who I am? I'm the one offering you just my opinion.
4 comments:
Not to go too far off topic but- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Just ask his father what car+kennedy+alcohol spells...
C-h-a-p-p-a-q-u-i-d-d-i-c-k!
I am never so consistently enraged along with a fellow blogger as I am when reading your posts.
Yeah. Next time he should be able to shoot a guy in the face while hunting without a permit and not have the police ask any questions. Whoops - already happened!
Hmmm.....the police didn't ask questions regarding Cheney's hunting accident? Funny, I found more news reports about that "investiagation" than the weather, the death of the pope, etc.
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