Read Pam

Seriously, Digby's great, but I really wish Pam's taser piece had hit Salon instead:

I'm quite interested in what you have to say -- "non-lethal" technology has obviously outpaced common sense. It has led to a sense of complacency in some law enforcement departments and sends the message that communication skills are unnecessary and that all civilians regardless of age, size, or mobility are considered life-threatening adversaries at the drop of a hat. What does the Obama administration, which has found itself thrust into the issue of racial profiling, have to say about the rampant abuse of Tasers on suspects -- and people accused of no crime at all -- around the country?

That last bit is a good question that has a simple and depressing answer: the current administration will have little or nothing to say about tasers and police brutality. There will be no strong federal leadership working to restore civil rights in the US.